Digital Tradition Mirror

Cowboy Fireman (Trusty Lariat)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Cowboy Fireman (Trusty Lariat)
(Harry A. McClintock)

Through the high Sierra Mountains            tune A
Came an S P passenger train
The hoboes tried to ride her
But found 'twas all in vain

The conductor he took the tickets            tune A
And he counted every soul;
The engineer looked straight ahead
And the fireman shoveled coal.

Now, the fireman was a cowboy                tune B
But do not think that strange
He could make more money shoveling coal
Than riding on the range

So though he was a fireman                   tune C
And though he had to sweat
He still remained a western guy
And he kept his lariat

The train was way behind time                tune A
When suddenly ahead
A little child strolled on the track
And filled them all with dread

Her golden hair in ringlets                  tune B
Was streamin' down her back.
And she little knew of her danger grave
As she strolled along the track

"My gosh" the hog head shouted               tune C
As he slammed on all the brakes
"I'll never stop this DP train
I ain't got what it takes"

"O Heaven help that wee tot!"                tune A
He cried in accents wild.
"Can nothing stop this DP train
And save the little child?"

Up sprang that cowboy fireman                tune B
And a gallant lad was he
"Now I will save that baby
If I wreck the whole DP"

He climbed upon the running board            tune A
With tears his eyes were wet
And in his hand, our hero brave
Bore his trusty lariat

He dropped his loop around a pole            tune B
That stood beside the track
And tied the other end of it
Around the big smokestack

He jerked the train right off the rails      tune A
And caused an awful wreck
And our hero lay there in a ditch
With the engine on his neck

Oh we will all remember                      tune C
That forty-fifth of May
For there were many gallant hearts
All filled with fear that day

They buried that poor fireman                tune B
Where the prairie wind blows wild
He killed two hundred passengers
But, Thank God, He saved the child

Recorded by Sam Hinton
SOF

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!