Cowboys' Music

From the movies to the CD

Early Cowboys took a lot of the inspiration for their music from what was around them. The Prairies for the cattle drives, the towns for the periods of rest, the women for oh well we all know what for.

One of the sure signs that a town was getting civilized was the building of the Opera House. It furnished the finest in music available, much like the saloon or bordelo, but a man could take his wife.
(or be taken by his wife) The singers were often lured to towns by offers of great sums of money, as much as $100.00 for Class acts like Jenny Lind. Miss Jenny was one of the most famous singers of the 1800's.

Swedish coloratura soprano considered to be the greatest of her time. She debuted in 1838 as Agathe in Weber's "Der Freischütz." The "Swedish Nightingale" toured the United States under the auspices of promoter Phineas Taylor Barnum between 1850 and 1852. Her tour left quite an impression on Americans. Theaters were named for her, as were streets, schools, dams and other structures. Steel engraving of Jenny Lind by W.C. Wrankmore, courtesy of the New York Public Library

Men as singers weren't that popular. After all the cowpokes saw plenty of them everyday.
Women were scarce and ones that could sing or act or dance were sought after.
Songs reflected the adoration men placed on women, songs like Oh Them Golden Slippers, Beautiful Dreamer, Sweet Betsy from Pike, House of the Rising Sun. Yes, we men have always had the highest regard for women and their abilities.

Yes the ability to strike out on a long and arduous journey that easily 50% of the women didn't survive, the ability to walk the hole distance, because the men "had" to drive the team afterall women couldn't do it. The ability to stop, setup camp, build a fire, cook supper, clean up, take care of the children, get things ready for breakfast, get a good 4 or 5 hours sleep and start the day all over again.
The men in hte mean time had to hunt game and unless they had kids old enough to do it for them, feed and water the livestock. Then sit around the fires and sing and chew. Great songs arose from these times. Bury Me not on the Lone Prairie, My Old Kentucky Home,Buffalo Gals, Pop goes the Weasel these were the type song sang on those long walks The Race for Home

Oklahoma territory just before the rush. courtesy National Archives

From the beginnings in the land rushes to the cabin or house on the homestead, the people came and brought their music. Often, along the trails, items discarded for weight or practicality were pianos, harpsichords, or large music boxes. The treasures of family history, cast aside like beer cans. Still items like guitars, concertinas, and harmonicas did make it and the songs carried on.
The mixture of cultures and ethinc backgrounds gave us a melting pot for music. The Irish and their light jaunty lyrics, the Germans with the stolid solemn approach (except for polkas), the English with the ballad (often bawdy), and all the others. Songs of joy like,

The Old Sod Shanty On My Claim

or Starving to Death On a Government Claim

Come Saturday night though the familys would get together at one farm or the other and have a hoe-down. Most of the music was of a bluegrass nature than the country music we hear in the movies. Songs to lift the spirits, move the feet, and provide would be lovers the chance to get close (just not to close now)

Now on to the Towns Back to the Start