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.
The Last Round Up
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna saddle old Paint for the last time and ride
So long old pal
It′s time your tears were dried
I'm headin' for the last round-up
Get along, little dogie
Get along, get along
Get along
Get along, little dogie
Get along, get along
Get along, little dogie
Get along
I′m headin′ for the last round-up
To the far away ranch of the boss in the sky
Where the strays are counted and branded
There go I
I'm headin′ for the last round-up
Get along, little dogie
Get along
The lyrics to Sons of the Pioneers's song "The Last Round-Up" convey a sense of farewell and acceptance of mortality. The singer is preparing for their final journey, symbolized by saddling up their horse "old Paint" one last time. They bid farewell to a dear friend, acknowledging that it is time to move on and let go of their sorrow. The repetition of "get along, little dogie" can be seen as both a comforting mantra and a reminder to keep moving forward.
The overall theme of the song is the inevitability of death and the idea that everyone must eventually head to their final destination. The "last round-up" represents an ending, but also a new beginning as the singer looks towards the "far away ranch of the boss in the sky." This metaphorical place is where all the strays, or wandering souls, are counted and branded, implying a sense of accountability for one's life.
Overall, "The Last Round-Up" is a poignant song about accepting the cycle of life and embracing one's own mortality. It serves as a reminder to cherish the time we have and to keep moving forward, even in the face of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm headin' for the last round-up
I am embarking on my final journey
Gonna saddle old Paint for the last time and ride
I am going to mount my trusted horse for one last ride
So long old pal
Farewell to my dear friend
It's time your tears were dried
It is time to stop grieving and move on
Get along, little dogie
Keep moving, little cattle
Get along, get along
Continue progressing, keep going
Get along, little dogie
Keep moving, little cattle
Get along
Keep going
I'm headin' for the last round-up
I am embarking on my final journey
To the far away ranch of the boss in the sky
To the distant ranch of the heavenly boss
Where the strays are counted and branded
Where the lost and wandering ones are acknowledged and marked
There go I
That is my destination
Writer(s): B. Hill
Contributed by Lucy L. 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)