Play song 3:26
Ridin' For The Roundup In The Springtime
Sung by Sons of the San Joaquin
Album: From Whence Came the Cowboy
Artist biography
- One may wonder why the hard work of a roundup is looked forward to. Remember, these cowboys have had the entire winter of cold freezing weather and very little to do. The roundup is exciting and the weather is usually beautiful and pleasant to work in. A time for the cowboy to get out of the bunkhouse and show off his skills in front of the other cowboys.
- The roundup of cattle is generally done in the spring when the new calves need to be checked for illnesses, sorted from other herds and branded to mark them as belonging to this cattle ranch.
- Ridin' for the roundup: refers to being part of the roundup as in "I'm working for the company".
- Reata: lasso made from woven cow hide strips
- Horse has wings: meaning my horse is very fast and feels like we are flying
- Rousting: getting out of their bunks
- Gear and rigging: Rigging refers to the saddle, tack and various parts that hold the cowboy's "gear" onto his horse
- Chinched their saddles: The strap that holds the saddle on the horse is called the chinch, chinched means the saddle is on and tightened
- Riding circle: The circle refers to how the cowboy rides a huge circle checking on, or gathering scattered cattle from around the ranch. See Dave Stamey's song The Circle for more
- Hazin': Hazing is to ride in front and to the side of a running animal. This encourages the animal to veer away from the cowboy and in the direction the cowboy wants him to go
- To the gather: Where the cowboys are hazing the cattle into a bunch (gather) to be sorted and branded
- My ol' ponies a-dippin' sand: A cowboy term, (sand) meaning if you have a job to do, you do your very best and don't quit before it is finished. Usually phrased "Got Sand". In this case his pony is excited and willing to work
- The calves are all frustrated: The original line is "The calves are all castrated" This change "cleans" the song for the kids
- The loop that drags them: The cowboy's lasso that drags the calves to the branding fire
- Doggie: A calf or small cow
Cowboys all love springtime
On this we do agree
Grass 'n trees the birds and bees
Play their symphony
My spirit sings
My hos has wings (horse)
Because I'm gona be
Ridin' for the roundup in the spring time
Yippy yea ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime
You can hear those cowboys roustin'
From their bunks at early dawn
They've checked their gear and riggin
As they chinched their saddles on
They've had their beans and bacon
Caus' the day is hard and long
A ridin' for the roundup in the springtime
Yippy yea ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime
It's out and ridin' circle
Cross a rough and rugged land
Astride an eagar pony
Sittin' tall and lookin' grand
A-hazin' to the gather
My ol' ponies a-dippin' sand
A ridin' for the roundup in the springtime
Yippy yea ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime
You can smell the hair a burnin'
And the calves are all frustrated
They're mighty scared and lonely
From their mother's separated
They feel the loop that drags them
To the brandin' iron that's waiten'
To mark em' for the roundup in the spring
When the doggies are all branded
And we've turned the critters out
We're headed for the tavern
Every cowboy knows the route
As we're rollin' back the carpet
All the cowboys give a shout
We'll be riding for the roundup come next springtime
Yippy ya ridin' hell bent for leather
Hear the hoof beats poundin'
And my old reata sing
Yippy o cause there just ain't nothin' better
Than ridin' for the roundup in the springtime
Ridin' for the roundup in the springtime.
| 