Cowboy songs, and other frontier ballads

About this book

Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads is a scholarly anthology that gathers the raw, oral poetry of the American West. Compiled by John A. Lomax and introduced by Barrett Wendell, the volume opens with a lyrical stanza that evokes the cowboy’s whistle and the herd’s restless movement, then moves into a series of meticulous notes on transcription, correction of musical errors, and historical context. The front matter includes a dedication to Theodore Roosevelt, a collector’s note describing how isolated, ill‑educated workers on cattle drives created and preserved these songs, and an extensive contents list that ranges from “Old Chisholm Trail” to “The Dying Ranger.” The book therefore presents both the lyrics and the music of frontier ballads, framed by academic commentary that underscores their cultural significance.

The language is plain yet earnest, reflecting early‑20th‑century folkloristic scholarship. Its style blends straightforward transcription with occasional poetic flourish, preserving the rough, unschooled voice of the cowboys while offering modern readers explanatory prose. Readers who enjoy folk‑song studies, Western history, or the gritty, communal creativity of frontier life will find this collection rewarding, as it provides a vivid glimpse into the songs that once steadied herds, soothed night watches, and echoed in saloon revelry.