His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
I Ride an Old Paint
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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I'm goin' to Montana to throw the hooligan
They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go
One went to college, the other went wrong
His wife, she got killed in a poolroom fight
But still he's a singin' from mornin' till night
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go
When I die, take my saddle from the wall
Place it on my old pony, lead him out of his stall
Tie my bones to my saddle and turn our faces to the West
And we'll ride the prairie we love the best
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go
I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan
I'm goin' to Montana to throw the hooligan
They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted, and their backs are all raw
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go
Arlo Guthrie’s song “I Ride an Old Paint” showcases a typical cowboy’s lifestyle in the Wild West. The opening line, “I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan, I’m goin’ to Montana to throw the hooligan,” presents the singer’s travel plans to Montana with his horses – Old Paint and Old Dan – to gather cattle because they are “throwing the hooligan,” which means they are gathering or rounding up the herds. The cows are grazing in the coulees and drinking in the draw with matted tails and raw backs from their long stays in the sun.
The chorus serves as a warning to the singer, reminding him to ride around the “little dogies” slowly because the fiery and snuffy cows are ready to gallop away. This line could also have a deeper personal meaning, encouraging the cowboy to take his time and appreciate the beauty of the land and the serenity of the moment.
The second half of the song tells the story of Old Bill Jones, who lost his wife in a poolroom fight but still sings from morning to night. This storyline provides context to the cowboy lifestyle, which requires constant traveling, gathering cattle for ranchers, and living through rough patches.
Overall, “I Ride an Old Paint” is a nostalgic look back at the cowboy lifestyle in the West, a tribute to those who lived and thrived under the hardest conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan
I am traveling on my old horse and leading my other old horse with me.
I'm goin' to Montana to throw the hooligan
I am heading towards Montana to engage in some mischievous activities.
They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw
The horses eat in the valleys and drink from the streams.
Their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw
The horses have unkempt tails and their backs are sore.
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
Go around the cattle slowly to prevent any trouble.
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go
The cattle are energetic and eager to move around.
Old Bill Jones had a daughter and a son
There was a man named Bill Jones who had a daughter and a son.
One went to college, the other went wrong
One child pursued higher education while the other one didn't end up going in the right direction in life.
His wife, she got killed in a poolroom fight
Bill Jones' spouse died during an altercation in a pool room.
But still he's a singin' from mornin' till night
Despite his misfortunes, Bill Jones continues to sing all day long.
When I die, take my saddle from the wall
After my death, remove my saddle from the wall.
Place it on my old pony, lead him out of his stall
Put the saddle on my old horse, and take him out of the stable.
Tie my bones to my saddle and turn our faces to the West
Attach my bones to the saddle and direct us towards the West.
And we'll ride the prairie we love the best
We will journey upon the prairie that we cherish the most.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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