Jim Bob Tinsley, in his book HE WAS SINGIN’ THIS SONG, calls this “the most authentic of all cowboy ballads.” It is undated and was written by and revised by and added to by working cowboys.
The Chisholm Trail led from Brownsville in far south Texas and went north through present-day Yukon, Oklahoma. Near present-day Perry, Okla., it split into a western trail leading to the railroad stockyard at Dodge City and an eastern trail leading to several other railroad stockyards (Caldwell, Wichita, Newton, Ellsworth, Abilene and Junction City.
The first shipment of Chisholm Trail Texas cattle was from Abilene on Sept. 5, 1867. Some nine-million cattle went up the Chisholm between 1867 and 1895. The average size herd was about 2,500 cattle—but the largest had 57,000 cattle. And there was only about one cowboy for every 200 cows. The trail was named after trader and storekeeper Jesse Chishom.
The Old Chisholm Trail Well [G] come along boys and listen to my tale,
With guitar chords
[D] I’ll tell you of my troubles on the [G ] old Chisholm Trail.CHORUS:
Com-a [D] ti-yi-yip-pee, yip-pee [G] yea,
Com-a [D] ti-yi-yip-pee, yip-pee [G] yea!2. On a ten dollar horse and a forty dollar saddle
[D] I started out to punchin’ them [G]longhorn cattle.3. I started up the trail October twenty-third,
[D] I started up the trail with the [G] 2U herd.4. I’m up in the morning before daylight
[D] And before I sleep the [G] moon shines bright.5. It’s bacon and beans most every day;
[D] We’ll soon be a-eatin’ [G] prairie hay.6. With my seat in the saddle and my hand on the horn,
[D] I’m the best damned cowboy that [G] ever was born.7. It’s cloudy in the west and a-lookin’ like rain,
[D] And my damned old slicker’s in the [G] wagon again.8. We hit Caldwell and we hit ‘er on the fly;
[D] We bedded down the cattle on a [G] hill close by.9. I went to the boss to draw my roll
[D] And he had me figured out nine [G] dollars in the hole.10. Me and my boss we had a little spat
[D] So I hit him in the face with my [G] ten-gallon hat.11. The boss says to me, “Why, I’ll fire you!
[D] Not only you---but the whole [G] damned crew!”12. I’ll sell my horse and I’ll sell my saddle’
[D] You can go to hell with your [G] longhorn cattle!But....on second thought.....
13. With my rump in the saddle and my head in the sky,
[D] I won't quit punchin’ cows un-til the [G] sweet by-and-by.
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