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I'm an Old Cowhand (from the Rio Grande)

by Ellyn Margret with Midnight in Laredo

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about

Johnny Mercer wrote this song after failing to make it in Hollywood. It was the Depression, and theatre was dead. All the composers went to Hollywood to make a living. Johnny Mercer and his wife drove cross-country from Savannah, Georgia, through the American West and real cowboys. When we got to Hollywood, "singing cowboy" movies were all the rage. All the cowboys and girls wore fringe and sequins and had clean hands. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics poking fun at these faux cowpeople, likely after driving back across the country when he didn't get a job composing for the movies. There are many more verses than commonly sung. This version is loosely based on the Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks version.

lyrics

I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
But my legs ain't bowed, and my cheeks ain't tanned
I'm a cowgirl who never saw a cow
Ain't roped a steer, cause I don't know how
Ain't a fixing to start it now
Yippee yi yo kiyay
Yippee yi yo kiyay

I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
And I learned to ride
Before I learned to stand
I'm a riding fool who is up to date
I know every trail in the Lone Star State
I ride the range in my Ford V8
Yippee yi yo kiyay
Yippee yi yo kiyay

I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
And I came to town singing with the band
I know all the songs that the cowboys know
Bout the big corral where the dogies go
I learned them all on the radio
Yippee yi yo kiyay
Yippee yi yo kiyay
Yippee yi yo kiyay

credits

released December 4, 2022
(c) 1936 Leo Feist Inc. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Music by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren.
Recorded and mixed by Michael Hanna at Hanna Banana Studios
Vocals: Ellyn Margret Shea
Guitar: Michael Hanna
Bass: Rob McCloskey
Drums: Larry Luthi
Keys: Ian Ratzer

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all rights reserved

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about

Ellyn Margret image

Ellyn Margret San Francisco, California

The best stories are true, whether or not they really happened.

I'm telling them using Americana, jazz, blues and the nooks and crannies in between...backed by some of the best players in the SF Bay area!

All songs are available as singles, so you can curate your own listening experience. ... more

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