1 (edited by Artie'splaying 2014-03-06 18:34:32)

Topic: Just a Young Cowboy

I'm relatively new to guitar. The first time I got paid to play was about a year ago for a production of the comedy "Bus Stop." You may remember the movie version that starred Marilyn Monroe. I also got a small stipend for writing this song--the producer didn't want to pay royalties for a published song, so I said I'd come up with something that suited the play. 

Just a Young CowboyInspired by “Only a Hobo” by Bob Dylan


Capo 1                 



In [G]ol Kansas city I was [C]walking one [G]day,


[Em]Saw me a cowboy, in the [A]gutter he [D]lay.


His [G]eyes were both closed and his [C]body was [G]cold


But he spoke from the grave, here’s the [D]story he [G]told



I was [D]only a cowboy, a [G]man with no name


[C]Ain’t got nobody my [Am/D]body to [D]claim


I [G]ain’t got nobody to [C]carry me [G]home


Only cowboy, who [D]died all [G]alone.



A [G]red pool of blood [C]seeped from his [G]shirt,


His [Em]face was unlined, but [A]veiled with [D]dirt.


[G]Couldn’t a been older than [C]twenty one [G]years,


And on the side of his cheek was the [D]trail of a [G]tear




I was [D]only a cowboy, a [G]man with no name


[C]Ain’t got nobody my [Am/D]body to [D]claim


I [G]ain’t got nobody to [C]carry me [G]home


Only cowboy, who [D]died all [G]alone.




His [G]left hand was holding a [C]photograph [G]with


A [Em]picture of a woman [A]he once thought was [D]his


In his [G]right hand, he clutched a [C]Colt forty-[G]five


Which he challenged his [D]rival and [G]died.




I was [D]only a cowboy, a [G]man with no name


[C]Ain’t got nobody my [Am/D]body to [D]claim


I [G]ain’t got nobody to [C]carry me [G]home


Only cowboy, who [D]died all [G]alone.




The [G]love of a woman is a [C]powerful [G]thing,


[Em]When it’s been won, a man [A]feels like a [D]king,


But [G]if it gets lost, desper-[C]ation sets [G]in,


‘N he’s willing to place his [D]life on a [G]string.


I was [D]only a cowboy, a [G]man with no name


[C]Ain’t got nobody my [Am/D]body to [D]claim


I [G]ain’t got nobody to [C]carry me [G]home


Only cowboy, who [D]died all [G]alone.



Re: Just a Young Cowboy

I like this a lot, nice work arite.

my papy said son your going too drive me too drinking if you dont stop driving that   Hot  Rod  Lincoln!! Cmdr cody and his lost planet airman

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Good one Artie. Plays well and is reminiscent of other great cowboy songs. Adding this to my "Covers" folder.

J  E  T  S
...and yet a Washington Commanders fan (unless they change their name again) ...long story...HTT...C

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Nice

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

i like it. a good cowboy story.

what sort of beat do you use? i tried it with both waltz and 4/4 and it worked with both.

ps dont tell anyone,but i dont know much of dylan's work.

phill

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Thanks, guys, for the comments. Here's the Bob Dylan song that I based mine on.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpob0o … hobo_music

His tempo, chords. and melody are a bit different from what I did in "Bus Stop," but I couldn't have written my song with his as a model. And that's what you call the folk tradition!

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Artie, I'm a cowboy guy and I really like this song. Great story, great lyrics.


Joe

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Thanks, Joe! I really appreciate that.

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Phill Williams wrote:

i like it. a good cowboy story.

what sort of beat do you use? i tried it with both waltz and 4/4 and it worked with both.

ps dont tell anyone,but i dont know much of dylan's work.

phill

Hi Phil,

In the production, I played it in waltz time, but like you, I've also played in in common time. 

I won't tell anyone that you don't know much of Dylan's work--that'll just be our little secret!

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

thanks artie, that's such a relief.

fyi, bob dylan took his surname from the welsh poet/writer dylan thomas.

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Re: Just a Young Cowboy

Nice Artie - Ya can't ever go wrong with Cowboy messages ! Glad you put in about waltz time - I was having tough time with regular 4/4  Thanks for the cool song!  Jim

Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but what your mind can imagine.
Make your life count, and the world will be a better place because you tried.

"Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except only the the best." - Henry Van Dyke