A group of jolly cowboys, discussing plans at ease
Says one, I'll tell you something, boys, if you will listen, please
I am an old cow-puncher, you see me dressed in rags
I used to be a good one boys, and went on great big jags
I have got a home boys, a good one you all know
Although I haven't seen it since very long ago
I'm headed back to Dixie once more to see them all
I'm going to see my mother when the work's all done this fall
When I left my home, boys, my mother for me cried
She begged me not to go, boys, for me she would have died
My mother's heart is aching, breaking for me, that's all
With God's help I'll see her when the work's all done this fall"
That very night this cowboy went out to stand his guard
The night was dark and cloudy and storming very hard
The cattle, they got frightened and rushed in wild stampede
The cowboy tried to head them while riding at full speed
Riding in the darkness, so loudly he did shout
Trying hard to head them and turn the herd about
His saddle horse did stumble and on him it did fall
He'll not see his mother when the work's all done this fall
"Send my mother my wages, boys, the wages I have earned
I am so afraid, boys, the last steer I have turned
I'm headed for a new range, I hear my Master call
I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this fall
Fred, you take my saddle, George, you take my bed
Bill, you take my pistol after I am dead
Then think of me kindly when you look upon them all
I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this fall"
Charlie was buried at sunrise, no tombstone for his head
Nothing but a little board, and this is what it said
"Charlie died at daybreak, he died from a fall
He'll not see his mother when the work's all done this fall"
Says one, I'll tell you something, boys, if you will listen, please
I am an old cow-puncher, you see me dressed in rags
I used to be a good one boys, and went on great big jags
I have got a home boys, a good one you all know
Although I haven't seen it since very long ago
I'm headed back to Dixie once more to see them all
I'm going to see my mother when the work's all done this fall
When I left my home, boys, my mother for me cried
She begged me not to go, boys, for me she would have died
My mother's heart is aching, breaking for me, that's all
With God's help I'll see her when the work's all done this fall"
That very night this cowboy went out to stand his guard
The night was dark and cloudy and storming very hard
The cattle, they got frightened and rushed in wild stampede
The cowboy tried to head them while riding at full speed
Riding in the darkness, so loudly he did shout
Trying hard to head them and turn the herd about
His saddle horse did stumble and on him it did fall
He'll not see his mother when the work's all done this fall
"Send my mother my wages, boys, the wages I have earned
I am so afraid, boys, the last steer I have turned
I'm headed for a new range, I hear my Master call
I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this fall
Fred, you take my saddle, George, you take my bed
Bill, you take my pistol after I am dead
Then think of me kindly when you look upon them all
I'll not see my mother when the work's all done this fall"
Charlie was buried at sunrise, no tombstone for his head
Nothing but a little board, and this is what it said
"Charlie died at daybreak, he died from a fall
He'll not see his mother when the work's all done this fall"
more tracks from the album
Cowboy Songs
- The Yellow Rose of Texas
- Let the Cowboy Dance
- Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail
- Cowboy Logic
- Spanish is the Lovin’ Tongue
- Jack of Diamonds
- The Streets of Laredo
- Home on the Range
- Texas Rangers
- What Am I Doing Here
- When the Work’s All Done This Fall
- Where Do Cowboys Go When They Die / Reincarnation
- Tumbling Tumbleweeds
- Happy Trails
- Cowboy Pride
- O Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
- Wild Ripplin’ Waters
- The Old Chisholm Trail
- Red River Valley
- Goodbye Old Paint
From the album
- Cowboy Songs (1990)
Michael Martin Murphey popular songs
- Maybe This Time
- Wildfire
- Red River Valley
- What’s Forever For
- Renegade
- Little Joe, the Wrangler
- When the Work’s All Done This Fall
- Riders in the Sky
- What Am I Doing Here
- From the Word Go
- Ring of Truth
- Children of the Wild World
- Roses and Thorns
- Let the Cowboy Dance
- Geronimo’s Cadillac
- Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail
- Harbor For My Soul
- Running Shadow
- Cowboy Logic
- Hearts in the Right Place
- Calico Silver
- The Heart Knows the Truth
- Wild Bird
- Spanish is the Lovin’ Tongue