From "Songs of the Cowboys" by N. Howard Thorp
Copyrighted 1908 and 1921
Given to Mr. Thorpe by Wait Roberts
Double Diamond Ranch, White Mountains, 1898
Authorship ascribed to father of Captain Roberts,
of the Texas Rangers.

Last night, as I lay on the prairie,
And looked at the stars in the sky,
I wondered if ever a cowboy
Would drift to that sweet by and by.

I hear there's to be a grand round-up
Where cowboys with others must stand,
To be cut by the riders of judgement
Who are posted and know all the brands.

The trail to that great mystic region
Is narrow and dim, so they say;
While the one that leads down to perdition
Is posted and blazed all the way.

Whose fault is it, then, that so many
Go astray, on this wild range fail,
Who might have been rich and had plenty
Had they known of the dim, narrow trail?

I wonder if at the last day some cowboy
Unbranded and unclaimed should stand,
Would he be mavericked by those riders of judgment
Who are posted and know all the brands?

I wonder if ever a cowboy
Stood ready for that Judgement Day,
And could say to the Boss of the Riders,
"I'm ready, come drive me away"?

For they, like the cows that are locoed,
Stampede at the site of a hand,
Are dragged with a rope to the round-up,
Or get marked with some crooked man's brand.

And I'm scared that I'll be a stray yearling,
A maverick, unbranded on high,
And get cut in the bunch with the "rusties"
When the Boss of the Riders goes by.

For they tell of another big owner
Who ne'er overstocked, so they say
But who always makes room for the sinner
Who drifts from the straight narrow way.

They say he will never forget you
That he knows every action and look;
So for safety you'd better get branded,
Have your name in the great Tally Book.

My wish for all cowboys is this:
That we may meet at that grand final sale;
Be cut out by the riders of judgement
And shoved up the dim, narrow trail.
 
 
 

"A few months ago, Marty Haggard brought his music
ministry to our church. I just wish everyone could
have the opportunity to see and hear this young man.
Please contact Marty Haggard and invite him to your church.
You'll be glad you did. "
Tom Bob

Marty Haggard Music Ministries
P.O. Box 629
Doyline, La. 71023

No matter how much wealth we might accumulate
or how famous we might become,
without God in our lives we are spiritually dead.
Please listen closely to the words of
"Deadest Man Alive"
 
 

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