D.J. O'Malley of the S.A. Ranch, near Miles City, Montana, claimed to be the author of this song. On Oct. 6, 1893 the STOCK GROWERS JOURNAL of Miles City published the words with the title, "After the Round-Up," and giving D.J. White the credit as the author. In 1932 D.J. O'Malley argued that he went by the name D.J. White, his stepfather's last name, until he was nearly 21. And he said that it was based on an incident on the XIT Ranch in Texas in which a young cowboy named Charlie Rutledge was killed while cutting cattle when his horse fell on him (not during a stampede). Another informant, Lee Lytton of Fort Worth, TX, supplied a full text with the remark that the song originated on the Spotted Wood Trail, 140 miles out of Deadwood, Wyoming, and was based on an actual happening. Carl Sprague recorded this song in 1924 and it sold over one-million records.
Jim Bob Tinsley said, "The fear of a mad stampeed was ever present on the open range. Cattle out in the open, especially those on the trail, were prone to panic at any unusual sound, sight, or smell. It took only one cow to start a mad rush of terror that the others would join instantly. Stampedes occurred more frequently at night during raging thunderstorms, which made them more difficult and dangerous.
"The cowboys had to head off the crazed column and double back the leaders, forcing the ends together, so that the cattle would begin to run around and around in a large circle like a mighty millstone. As the circle of cattle tightened, the crushing power of the running mass had to be stopped to prevent damage to the herd. Riders stopped the circle by knifing through its center, waving lariats, shouting, and firing their guns, thereby cutting it in two. Any stampede took its toll in lost cattle weight and in lost time and labor" (He Was Singin' This Song, pp. 99-100).
When the Work's All Done
This Fall1. A [ D ] group of jolly cowboys dis- [ G ] cussing plans at ease.
Says [ A ] one, "I'll tell you some-thing boys, if you will lis-ten [D] please.
I am an old cow-punch-er and [ G ] here I'm dressed in rags.
I [ A ] used to be a tough one and go on great big [ D ] jags."
2. But [ D ] I've got a home, boys, a [ G ] good one, you all know,
Al - [ A ] though I have not seen it since long, long A- [ D ] go.
I'm going back to Dixie once [ G ] more to see them all;
I'm [ A ] going back to see my mother when the work's all done this [ D ] fall.3. "When [ D ] I left home, boys, my mother [ G ] for me cried,
[ A ] Begged me not to go, boys, for me she would have [ D ] died.
My mother's heart is breaking, [ G ] breaking for me, that's all.
And [ A ] with God's help I'll see her when the work's all done this [ D ] fall."4. “After [D] the round-ups are over and after the [G] shipping is done,
[A] I am going right straight home, boys, ere all my money’s [D] gone.
I have changed my ways, boys, and now I’m [G] standing tall.
And [A] I am going home, boys, when the work is done this [D] fall.”5. "That [ D ] night this cowboy went [ G ] out to stand his guard.
The [ A ] night was dark and cloudy and storming very [ D ] hard.
The cattle they got frightened and [ G ] rushed in wild stampede;
The [ A ] cowboy tried to head them, riding at full [ D ] speed.6. While [ D ] riding in the darkness so [ G ] loudly did he shout,
[ A ] Trying his best to head them and turn the herd [ D ] about.
Charlie’s horse did stumble and [ G ] on him did fall.
Ol’ [ A ] Charlie won't see his mother when the work's all done this [ D ] fall.7. His [ D ] body was so mangled the boys all [ G] thought him dead.
They [ A ] picked him up so gently and laid him on a [ D ] bed.
He opened wide his blue eyes and [ G ] looking all around,
He [ A ] motioned to his comrades to sit near him on the [ D ] ground.8. "Fred, [ D ] you take my saddle. George, you [ G ] take my bed.
[ A ] Bill, you take my pistol after I am [ D ] dead.
And think of me kindly when you [ G ] look upon them all.
For [ A ] I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this [ D ] fall."9. Poor [ D ] Charlie was buried at sunrise, no [ G ] tombstone at his head.
[ A ] Nothing but a little board, and this is what it [ D ] said:
"Charlie died at daybreak, he [ G ] died from a fall.
And [A] he'll not see his mother when the work's all done this [ D ] fall."
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