In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
I'm An Old Cowhand
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But my legs ain't bowed and my cheeks ain't tan
I'm a cowboy who never saw a cow
Never roped a steer cause I don't know how
Sure ain't a fixin to start in now
Yippie yi yo kayah
I'm an old cowhand and I come down from the Rio Grande
I'm a riding fool who is up to date
I know every trail in the Lone Star State
Cause I ride the range in a Ford V-8
Yippie yi yo kayah
We're old cowhands from the Rio Grande
And we come to town just to hear the band
We know all the songs that the cowboys know
'Bout the big corral where the doggies go
We learned them all on the radio
Yippie yi yo kayah
I'm an old cowhand
Oh yes, Mr. Bing
Too hot for you, Uncle Fudd?
Down from the Rio Grande
Oh where the west is wild all around the borderland
Where the buffalo roam around the zoo
and the Injuns run up a rug or two
and the old Bar X is just a barbecue, yeah
Yippie yi yo kayah
I'm a pioneer who began from scratch
I don't bat an eye in a shootin' match
They don't call me Elmer, they call me Satch
Yippie yi yo kayah
Yippie yi yo kayah
Get along little horsy
Get along little horsy
Yippie yi yo kayah, oh!
In "I'm An Old Cowhand," Asleep at the Wheel sings about a cowboy from the Rio Grande who has never actually been around cows or steers. The lyrics suggest that the cowboy is more of a romanticized version of the American West than a real cowboy, seeing as he "never saw a cow" and certainly "ain't fixin' to start now." The song also includes references to the Lone Star State, where the cowboy claims to know every trail and ride the range in a Ford V-8. The chorus consists of a classic cowboy yelp--"Yippie yi yo kayah!"-- which further establishes the song's Western theme.
One interpretation of the song could be that the cowboy represents the American spirit of adventure, even if that spirit is more illusion than reality. The cowhand's romanticized version of cowboy life is highlighted in the chorus, where he yelps with pride about his imagined feats. The mention of how he learned all the cowboy songs on the radio further reinforces this idea that his cowboy identity is more a product of popular culture than actual experience. The song also touches upon the idea of reinvention, as the cowboy has remade himself as a cowboy despite not having any actual experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande
I am a veteran cowboy from the borderland of Rio Grande.
But my legs ain't bowed and my cheeks ain't tan
Although I'm an old-timer cowboy, my legs are straight, and my cheeks are not tanned.
I'm a cowboy who never saw a cow
Even though I'm a cowboy, I never saw a cow in my life.
Never roped a steer cause I don't know how
I haven't learned how to catch a steer using a lasso, so I never tried.
Sure ain't a fixin to start in now
At this age, there's no chance to practice new skills like roping steers.
Yippie yi yo kayah
A traditional cowboy's cheer without any specific meaning.
And I learned to ride, ride, ride 'fore I learned to stand
I started riding horses at an early age before learning how to walk.
I'm a riding fool who is up to date
I am an updated and experienced rider.
I know every trail in the Lone Star State
I am highly knowledgeable of every trail in Texas.
Cause I ride the range in a Ford V-8
I roam on the range driving my Ford V-8 car.
We're old cowhands from the Rio Grande
As a group of veteran cowboys from the Rio Grande, we travel to town from time to time.
And we come to town just to hear the band
We visit the town just to attend musical events and concerts.
We know all the songs that the cowboys know
Having vast experience, we know all the traditional cowboy songs.
'Bout the big corral where the doggies go
The songs are about the big arena where the cattle are held.
We learned them all on the radio
We learned the cowboy songs by listening to the radio.
Oh where the west is wild all around the borderland
Referring to the wild west of the borderland of Rio Grande.
Where the buffalo roam around the zoo
In the modern-day, buffalos are kept in zoos instead of running free on the range.
and the Injuns run up a rug or two
Native Americans of the past would run up the carpet when dancing.
and the old Bar X is just a barbecue, yeah
The legendary Bar X ranch is now just a place for a cookout.
I'm a pioneer who began from scratch
I am a cowboy who started this adventure from zero.
I don't bat an eye in a shootin' match
I remain calm and composed during gunfights.
They don't call me Elmer, they call me Satch
Although my name is not Elmer, they, perhaps his friends, call me Satch.
Get along little horsy
A phrase to encourage the horse to move forward.
Yippie yi yo kayah, oh!
A traditional cowboy's cheer without any specific meaning.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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