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Cowboy Poetry and Western Verse
Tough Job
Harris Tobias
The cowboys were tired after a day in the rain
Tired of ropin’ and brandin' and such
The horses were wet but they didn’t complain
For comfort neither asked much
A little hot grub and a warm dry bed
Was all they ever expected
Some place safe to lay their head
A place they felt somewhat protected
That night brought a storm, a terrible blow
And the cattle were threatening to bolt
The trail boss said, “Fellas you’ll all have to go.”
There was grumblin’ but no real revolt
“You’d have to be crazy to ride out in that
That wind might just blow you away.”
“Put on yer slicker and tie down your hat,
Sometimes you got to work for your pay.”
The boys all went out like the boys always have
Cause, after all, that’s what cowboys do
Some call it crazy, some might call it brave
But for them it’s just muddlin’ through.
You’re often alone out on the range
A man has to rely on himself
But when you need help, the means of exchange
Is a handshake and nothin’ much else
It’s tough and it’s lonely workin’ the herd
Not much to give a man pride
Except you can still take a man at his word
And you can trust that he’ll be by your side
When that long night was over and the cattle secure
And the cowboys straggled back into camp
The only thing any of them wanted for sure
Was a few minutes out of the damp
But already the sun was climbin’ the sky
And another day on the trail had begun
Not one of those cowpokes ever asked why
They just did what had to be done
And after that long day it was time to rest
And you’re lyin’ there shootin’ the breeze
You have the good feelin’ that you did your best
And you deserve to be takin’ your ease.
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