A Cowboy's Dream
Eddy Arnold Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Last night as I laid on the prairie
And looked at the stars in the sky
I wondered if ever a cowboy
Would drift to that sweet by and by.

Roll along, roll along,
Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on
Roll along, roll along,
Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on.


The road to that bright happy region
Is a dim narrow trail so they say
But the brought one that leads to protection
Is posted and blazed all the way.

They say there will be a great roundup
And cowboys like doggies will stand
To be marched by the riders of judgement
Who are posted and know every brand.

Roll along, roll along,
Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on
Roll along, roll along,
Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on.

They say he will never forget you
That he knows every action and look
So for safety you'd better get branded
Have your name in the great tally book.

Roll along, roll along,
Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on




Roll along, roll along,
Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on...

Overall Meaning

In the song "A Cowboy's Dream", Eddy Arnold paints a picture of a cowboy lying on the prairie looking at the stars, wondering if he will ever reach the "sweet by and by". The cowboy is contemplative and aware of the risks he takes in his line of work. He thinks about how the road to heaven may be narrow and difficult to navigate, but he takes comfort in the fact that it is "posted and blazed all the way". There will be a great "roundup" where all the cowboys, like the "doggies," will stand to be judged by those who know every brand. But the cowboy believes that he will not be forgotten, that his actions and looks will be recorded, and that he will be branded and have his name in the "great tally book". The song ends with the refrain "Roll along, roll along, roll on little doggies roll on" which serves as a reminder that the journey continues.


Line by Line Meaning

Last night as I laid on the prairie
As I rested on the prairie last night


And looked at the stars in the sky
And gazed at the stars in the sky


I wondered if ever a cowboy
I pondered if someday a cowboy


Would drift to that sweet by and by.
Would journey to the afterlife.


Roll along, roll along,
Move forward


Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on
Keep going, little cows


The road to that bright happy region
The path to heaven


Is a dim narrow trail so they say
Is supposed to be a difficult path


But the bright one that leads to protection
But the path that leads to salvation


Is posted and blazed all the way.
Is marked all along the way.


They say there will be a great roundup
It is said that there will be a judgement day


And cowboys like doggies will stand
And cowboys will stand with their herds


To be marched by the riders of judgement
To be judged by God


Who are posted and know every brand.
Who already know every soul.


They say he will never forget you
It is said that God will never forget you.


That he knows every action and look
That God knows everything about you.


So for safety you'd better get branded
So it's safer to believe in God


Have your name in the great tally book.
Have your name written in the book of life.


Roll along, roll along,
Move forward


Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on
Keep going, little cows


Roll along, roll along,
Move forward


Roll on little doggies roll on, roll on...
Keep going, little cows.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions