Ragtime Cowboy Joe
Encyclopedia
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is a popular song lyrics by Grant Clarke
, music by Lewis F. Muir
and Maurice Abrahams
. © 1912, F.A. Mills, 122 W. 36th St, New York.
The 1912 copyright version published by F.A. Mills credits Lewis F. Muir
and Maurice Abrahams
as composers and Grant Clarke
as the lyricist. The song was composed in Brooklyn, NY by the song writing team that also wrote Second Hand Rose. The song was written after an appearance by Maurice Abrahams' nephew, Joe Abrahams who appeared at Maurice Abrahams' home wearing a cowboy outfit. Maurice Abrahams was so captivated by the appearance of his nephew dressed up as a cowboy that the elder Abrahams was influenced in writing Ragtime Cowboy Joe in 1912. It was a number-one hit song for singer Bob Roberts
in 1912. Trolley Car conductor Harry Cohn had a sideline as a music promoter and took Ragtime Cowboy Joe and promoted it to hit status as he willingly told anyone who would listen for 40 years. Over the years, it has been performed by a diverse group of artists, ranging from Eddy Howard
to The Chipmunks
. "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was also the radio show theme song for New York City's long running, award-winning public radio show, Cowboy Joe's Radio Ranch (1976-1988), hosted by Paul Aaron, New York's Cowboy Joe. During one of his radio shows Paul Aaron had the elder Joe Abrahams (the original Cowboy Joe) as a special guest. Paul Aaron played many versions of his favorite song dating back to one sung by Bob Roberts from a 1919 acoustic RCA Victor 78 rpm record. He also played many "live" versions recorded during the University of Wyoming football and basketball games. A recent version of the song appears on Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks 2009 album "Tangled Tales"
(verse)
(refrain)
Variations include: "He always sings/Ragtime music to his cattle", "He's got a syncopated gaiter/And you ought to hear the meter", "Son of a gun from old Wyoming"
. Traditionally, Cowboy fans stand and clap to the beat of the song as played by Wyoming's Western Thunder Marching Band. The version of the song appropriated by Wyoming includes lyrics adjusted to represent the school's location, a stands cheer that occurs during a drum break, and a repeat of the verse commonly follows.
Stands cheer: (For the Cowboys)
(For the Cowgirls)
The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! at UC Davis also favors the song. In this case;
debut album Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks
. The song was released as a single in 1959. After the chart performance of the Chipmunks' last two singles, "The Chipmunk Song" and "Alvin's Harmonica
", both of which have managed to reach the Top Ten, it was hoped that "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" would continue their streak of Top Ten hits. Instead the single peaked at #16 on the Billboard
Pop Singles Chart
, which was the group's first single to miss the Top Ten, although it was their third consecutive Top 20 single. The song was also a success on the Billboard Black Singles, peaking at #29. Since the song was also credited to David Seville by Billboard
, the song became Seville's fourth consecutive Top 20 single.
Grant Clarke
Grant Clarke was an American songwriter.Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians...
, music by Lewis F. Muir
Lewis F. Muir
Lewis F. Muir, born Louis Meuer was an American composer and ragtime pianist.Muir started as a pianist in St. Louis and played in the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. He moved to New York in 1910. His first published composition was "Play That Barber-Shop Chord" from 1910. Vaudeville entertainer...
and Maurice Abrahams
Maurice Abrahams
Maurice Abrahams was a successful American songwriter in the early years of the 20th century.Popular songs co-written by Abrahams included "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" and "He'd Have to Get Under — Get Out and Get Under " ....
. © 1912, F.A. Mills, 122 W. 36th St, New York.
The 1912 copyright version published by F.A. Mills credits Lewis F. Muir
Lewis F. Muir
Lewis F. Muir, born Louis Meuer was an American composer and ragtime pianist.Muir started as a pianist in St. Louis and played in the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. He moved to New York in 1910. His first published composition was "Play That Barber-Shop Chord" from 1910. Vaudeville entertainer...
and Maurice Abrahams
Maurice Abrahams
Maurice Abrahams was a successful American songwriter in the early years of the 20th century.Popular songs co-written by Abrahams included "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" and "He'd Have to Get Under — Get Out and Get Under " ....
as composers and Grant Clarke
Grant Clarke
Grant Clarke was an American songwriter.Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians...
as the lyricist. The song was composed in Brooklyn, NY by the song writing team that also wrote Second Hand Rose. The song was written after an appearance by Maurice Abrahams' nephew, Joe Abrahams who appeared at Maurice Abrahams' home wearing a cowboy outfit. Maurice Abrahams was so captivated by the appearance of his nephew dressed up as a cowboy that the elder Abrahams was influenced in writing Ragtime Cowboy Joe in 1912. It was a number-one hit song for singer Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts is a 1992 film written and directed by Tim Robbins. It is a satirical mockumentary, chronicling the rise of Bob Roberts, a conservative politician who is a candidate for an upcoming United States Senate election...
in 1912. Trolley Car conductor Harry Cohn had a sideline as a music promoter and took Ragtime Cowboy Joe and promoted it to hit status as he willingly told anyone who would listen for 40 years. Over the years, it has been performed by a diverse group of artists, ranging from Eddy Howard
Eddy Howard
Eddy Howard was an American vocalist and bandleader who was popular during the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:...
to The Chipmunks
The Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
. "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was also the radio show theme song for New York City's long running, award-winning public radio show, Cowboy Joe's Radio Ranch (1976-1988), hosted by Paul Aaron, New York's Cowboy Joe. During one of his radio shows Paul Aaron had the elder Joe Abrahams (the original Cowboy Joe) as a special guest. Paul Aaron played many versions of his favorite song dating back to one sung by Bob Roberts from a 1919 acoustic RCA Victor 78 rpm record. He also played many "live" versions recorded during the University of Wyoming football and basketball games. A recent version of the song appears on Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks 2009 album "Tangled Tales"
Lyrics
As with many popular songs of the era, the verse is often omitted: the refrain's lyrics vary somewhat depending on the publisher.(verse)
- Out in Arizona
- Where the bad men are,
- And the only friend to guide you
- Is an evening star,
- The roughest, toughest man by far
- Is Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
- Got his name from singing
- To the cows and sheep
- Every night they say
- He sings the herd to sleep
- In a basso rich and deep,
- Crooning soft and low.
(refrain)
- He always sings
- Ragtime music to the cattle as he swings
- Back and forward in the saddle
- On a horse
- That is syncopated-gaited
- And you ought to hear the meter
- To the roar of his repeater.
- How they run
- When they hear that fellow's gun
- Because the Western folks all know
- He's a high-falutin', scootin', shootin',
- Son of a gun from Arizona,
- Ragtime cowboy Joe.
- How he sings,
- Raggy music to his cattle
- As he swings
- Back and forward in his saddle
- On his horse (A pretty good horse)
- That is syncopated-gaited
- And with such a funny meter
- To the roar of his repeater.
- How they run
- When they hear the fellow's gun
- Because the western folks all know:
- He's a hifalootin', scootin', shootin'
- Son-of-a-gun from Arizona,
- Ragtime Cowboy
- Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
Variations include: "He always sings/Ragtime music to his cattle", "He's got a syncopated gaiter/And you ought to hear the meter", "Son of a gun from old Wyoming"
University song
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is also the school song of the University of WyomingUniversity of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
. Traditionally, Cowboy fans stand and clap to the beat of the song as played by Wyoming's Western Thunder Marching Band. The version of the song appropriated by Wyoming includes lyrics adjusted to represent the school's location, a stands cheer that occurs during a drum break, and a repeat of the verse commonly follows.
Stands cheer: (For the Cowboys)
- 'C'! 'O'! 'W'! 'B'! 'O'! 'Y'! 'S'!
- COWBOYS! COWBOYS! COWBOYS!
(For the Cowgirls)
- 'C'! 'O'! 'W'! 'G'! 'I'! 'R', 'L', 'S'!
- COWGIRLS! COWGIRLS! COWGIRLS!
The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! at UC Davis also favors the song. In this case;
- He's a high-falutin', rootin' tootin'
- Son of a gun from California
- He's some cowboy
- Talk about your cowboy
- Ragtime Cowboy Joe
The Chipmunks
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is the third and final single from The Chipmunks'Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
debut album Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks
Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks
Let’s All Sing With the Chipmunks is the debut album of Alvin and the Chipmunks. It is an interactive children's novelty album. The songs on the record are a mixture between cover versions of children's songs in the public domain and customized original musical material...
. The song was released as a single in 1959. After the chart performance of the Chipmunks' last two singles, "The Chipmunk Song" and "Alvin's Harmonica
Alvin's Harmonica
"Alvin's Harmonica" is a song from the fictional musical group, Alvin and the Chipmunks, which also features additional vocals by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. who plays David Seville in the song. The song was released as the second single from the group's debut album, Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks in...
", both of which have managed to reach the Top Ten, it was hoped that "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" would continue their streak of Top Ten hits. Instead the single peaked at #16 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Pop Singles Chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, which was the group's first single to miss the Top Ten, although it was their third consecutive Top 20 single. The song was also a success on the Billboard Black Singles, peaking at #29. Since the song was also credited to David Seville by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, the song became Seville's fourth consecutive Top 20 single.