The Sons of the Pioneers did several songs for the John Ford movies Wagon Master (in 1949) and Rio Grande in (1950).
The six members who made the Sons of the Pioneers famous in the late 1930s with their close-harmonied western style music were elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1995, they were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In 1977, the Smithsonian designated the Sons of the Pioneers as "national treasures". Through many changes to the line-up, the Sons of the Pioneers have continued to perform.
Slow Moving Cattle
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know, you gotta go home
Slow little dogies, you're trailin′ way behind
Don′t you know, you'll never find your home
Just for you, green pastures wait ahead
There at the home corral
But for me, there′s something else instead
Slow movin' cattle, move on your lazy bones
Whoopie-tidle-widle on home
Slow movin′ cattle, hurry on home
The lyrics of Slow Moving Cattle by Sons of the Pioneers paint a vivid picture of the slow journey of cattle and the longing to reach their destination. The song addresses the cattle directly, urging them to move faster as they seem to be lagging behind and taking their time. The repetition of "slow movin' cattle" emphasizes the leisurely pace at which these animals are moving, contrasting with the urgency of reaching their home.
The imagery of "green pastures wait ahead" creates a sense of hope and promise for the cattle, highlighting that there is a better place for them to rest and graze. This contrasts with the melancholy tone of the next line, which suggests that the singer may not have the same destination in mind. While the cattle have a clear path to follow towards their home corral, the singer seems to have a different longing - for his "blue-eyed gal" who is waiting elsewhere.
The chorus of the song serves as a gentle nudge for the cattle to pick up their pace and continue on their journey towards home. The playful exclamation of "whoopie-tidle-widle on home" adds a sense of fun and encouragement, as if cheering the animals along their way. The repetition of "hurry on home" further emphasizes the need for the cattle to reach their destination promptly.
Overall, Slow Moving Cattle captures the essence of a slow and steady journey, both for the cattle and the singer who may have a different destination in mind. The song evokes a sense of longing and anticipation, contrasting the peaceful grazing of the cattle with the yearning for a loved one. Through its simplistic yet poignant lyrics, the song conveys themes of homecoming, companionship, and the passage of time in the vast expanse of the countryside.
Line by Line Meaning
Slow movin′ cattle, you're movin′ mighty slow
The cattle are moving at a very slow pace.
Don't you know, you gotta go home
You need to get back to your home.
Slow little dogies, you're trailin′ way behind
The dogies are lagging far behind.
Don′t you know, you'll never find your home
You won't be able to find your way back home at this rate.
Just for you, green pastures wait ahead
There are lush pastures waiting for you in the future.
There at the home corral
You will find security and familiarity at your home base.
But for me, there′s something else instead
For me, there is a different path to follow.
It's my blue-eyed gal who′s waiting
My significant other is patiently waiting for me.
Slow movin' cattle, move on your lazy bones
Lazy cattle need to pick up their pace and keep moving.
Whoopie-tidle-widle on home
Get excited and make your way back home.
Slow movin′ cattle, hurry on home
Cattle, move faster and return to your home quickly.
Writer(s): Tim Spencer
Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bill Akins
on The Devil's Great Grandson
"The Devil's Great Grandson" (Lyrics)
Recorded by Roy Rogers & The Son's Of The Pioneers
(Lyrics submitted by Bill Akins)
(The Devil's Great Grandson performed by the Sons Of The Pioneers and written by Bob Nolan. The tune was recorded in Los Angeles on December 14, 1937 and the group at that time was Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman and the Farr brothers.)
Old Skyball Paint was the devil's saint
His eyes were a fiery red
Good men have tried this horse to ride
And all of them are dead
Now I won't brag but I rode this nag
Till his blood began to boil
Then I hit the ground and ate three pound
Of good old western soil
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Light group harmony yodel)
I swore by heck
I'd break his neck for the jolt he gave my pride
I threw my noose on that old cayuse and once more took a ride
He turned around and soon
I found his tail where his head should be
So says says I Perhaps he's shy or he just don't care for me
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Only Roy Rogers STRONG yodeling, group harmony humming and ahhing along)
In town you see just to have a spree when
I meets old Sheriff Jim
With fistic fun and my big six-gun
I buys the town from him
For a whoop and a holler and a counterfeit dollar
Then I ask for a bill of sale
But my face turned red when the contract said just thirty days in jail
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Light group harmony yodel again)
Where the greasewood bats wear
Stetson hats and the bad men all run free
Where they sold the jail at a bargain sale
That's the land for me
Where the desert ants wear buckskin pants and help me rule the land
With the ants and the bats and my two gats
I'll rule with an iron hand
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Only Roy Rogers STRONG yodeling, group harmony humming and ahhing along)