Cattle Call
Dwight Yoakam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Woo - hoo - ooo - oop - to - do - do)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Doo - do - do - do - op - to - do.)
The cattle are prowlin' the coyotes are howlin'
Way out where the dogies bawl
Where spurs are a - jinglin', a cowboy is singin'
This lonesome cattle call.
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Woo - hoo - ooo - oop - to - do - do)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Doo - do - do - do - op - to - do.)
He rides in the sun 'til his days work is done
And he rounds up the cattle each fall
Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do
Singin' his cattle call.
For hours he will ride on the range far and wide
When the night winds blow up a squall
His heart was a feather in all kinds of weather
He sang his cattle call.
--- Instrumental ---
He's brown as a berry from ridin' the prairie
And he sings with an ol' western drawl
Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do
Singin' his cattle call.
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Woo - hoo - ooo - oop - to - do - do)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Doo - do - do - do - op - to - do.)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Woo - hoo - ooo - oop - to - do - do)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Doo - do - do - do - op - to - do.)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Woo - hoo - ooo - oop - to - do - do)
(Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do)
(Doo - do - do - do - op - to - do)...
The lyrics to Dwight Yoakam's Cattle Call paint a vivid picture of a cowboy living in the wild west. The song starts off with the haunting sound of a coyote howling as the cattle prowl around in the darkness. The spurs on the cowboy's boots are jingling as he sings out a lonesome cattle call, perhaps to soothe the animals or simply to pass the time. The cowboy's days are long and hot as he rides through the sun to round up the cattle, but he remains dedicated to his work. Despite the harsh conditions, his heart is light and he continues to sing the cattle call, regardless of the weather.
Throughout the song, Dwight Yoakam uses imagery to help the listener visualize the cowboy and his surroundings. The range is wide and vast, the wind is fierce, and the cowboy is as brown as a berry from riding in the sun. The song captures the essence of the American west, where life was tough but rewarding for those who were willing to work hard and live a simpler life.
Overall, Cattle Call is a tribute to the cowboys who helped shape the west and the culture that grew from it. The song serves as a reminder of a simpler time, when life was tough but people were connected to the land and each other in a way that is difficult to find in modern times.
Line by Line Meaning
The cattle are prowlin' the coyotes are howlin'
Out on the open range, the cows are wandering and the sound of coyotes can be heard in the distance.
Way out where the dogies bawl
The cattle are in a remote location and can be heard mooing in the background.
Where spurs are a - jinglin', a cowboy is singin'
The sound of the cowboy's spurs can be heard as he rides, and he is singing a tune.
This lonesome cattle call.
His song is a lonesome cattle call that echoes out across the range.
He rides in the sun 'til his days work is done
The cowboy works all day, riding in the hot sun.
And he rounds up the cattle each fall
He is responsible for herding the cattle and bringing them back in each fall.
Singin' his cattle call.
As he works, he sings his cattle call to keep his spirits up.
For hours he will ride on the range far and wide
He spends many hours riding his horse across the vast range.
When the night winds blow up a squall
When the wind picks up at night, it can become stormy and difficult to ride.
His heart was a feather in all kinds of weather
No matter the weather or conditions, the cowboy's heart is light and carefree as he rides.
He sang his cattle call.
He continues to sing his cattle call, even in difficult conditions.
He's brown as a berry from ridin' the prairie
The sun has tanned the cowboy's skin from years of riding in the open prairie.
And he sings with an ol' western drawl
His accent is that of an old-time western cowboy.
Woo - hoo - woo - ooo - to - do
The refrain of the song that the cowboy continues to sing.
(Doo - do - do - do - op - to - do.)
The refrain repeated at the end of each stanza.
Contributed by Leo M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Susan
on Fast As You
Who is Sookie? I gotsta know!