Well, a group of jolly cowboys Discussing Plan 1-E
Says, one, I'll tell you something, lads If you will listen, please
I'm an old cow puncher And here I'm dressed in rags
I used to be a tough one And I'd go on great big jags
But I still have a homeboy's A good one, you all know
Though I haven't seen it Since many years ago
I'm going back to Dixie Once more to see them all
I'm going to see my mother When the work's all done this fall
Now after the shipping's over And before my money's gone
I'm going back to see them My loved ones on the farm
But my mother's heart is breaking Breaking for me, that's all
And with God's help I'll see her When the work's all done this fall
Now that very night that cowboy Went out to stand his guard
The night was dark and stormy And raining very hard
The cattle all got frightened And they rest in the mad stampede
And we were trying to turn them All riding for the lead
Now while riding through the darkness You could plainly hear him shout
As he'd done his best to help them And turn the herd about
But he sat upon, he stumbled And on the boy did fall
And he'll not see his mother When the work's all done this fall
We broke into the circle Where all had thought him dead
We picked him up so gently And laid him on his bed
But he opened wide his bright blue eyes And looking all around
He made motions for his comrades To sit by him on the ground
Now boys send mother the wages The wages that I've earned
For I'll not live to spend them My last year I have turned
I'm going to that new range To hear my master's call
And I'll not see my mother When the work's all done this fall
Now Jim you take my saddle And Ted you can have my bed
Jack you take my pistol As soon as I am dead
Now boys think of me kindly As you look upon them all
For I'll not see my mother When the work's all done this fall
We buried him about sunrise No tombstone at his head
Nothing but a little old slab And this is what it said
Poor Charlie died about daybreak His saddle horse did fall
And he'll not see his mother When the work's all done this fall
Now Jim you take my saddle And Ted you can have my bed
Jack you take my pistol As soon as I am dead
Now boys think of me kindly As you look upon them all
For I'll not see my mother When the work's all done this fall