Here's to the passing cowboy, the plowman's pioneer
His home the boundless mesa, he of any man the peer
Around his wide sombrero was stretched rattler's hide
His bridle sporting conchos, lasso at his side.

Days spent roaming prairies, nights with the stars
Keeping vigil over thousands, not held by posts or bars
Never a diversion in all the lonesome land
Cattle, horses, sun and sage and sand.

Hoot owls hail him, scuttling through the flat
Prairie dogs sassing him, at their doors where they sat
Rattler hisses warning where near it's haunt he trod
Texas longhorn pursuing over pathless waste of sod.

Lasso, quirt and colt, cowboy knows his skill
Pass with him to history, naught in their place can fill
He, bold bronc rider, never conned a lesson page,
But cattle, horses, sun and sand and sage.

Long night watches, terror in the skies!
Lightning played and mocked him, until blinded were his eyes
Rage the storm around him, fear was in his heart
Lest panic-stricken leaders might make the whole herd start.

It meant a death for many, perhaps a wild stampede
None could stem the fury of the cattle in the lead
Then life seemed so little and death so very near
With cattle, cattle and cattle and darkness everywhere.

Then quaff with me a bumper of water clean and pure
The memory of the cowboy whose fame must ever endure
From the Llano Estacado to the Dakota's distant sands
Were herds of countless thousands in days of fenceless lands.

Let us rear for him an altar in the Temple of the Brave
And weave of Texas grasses, a garland for his grave
And offer him a guerdor for the work he has done
with cattle, horses, sage and sand and sun.