Bravest Cowboy - PAUL & JODY

Jody Kruskal and Paul Friedman performing "Bravest Cowboy" on Anglo concertina and fiddle from their album "Paul and Jody - American Songs and Tunes" JMK 104, available at http://www.jodykruskal.com/

Bravest Cowboy is from the singing and playing of Tommy Jarrell (1901-1985), the North Carolina fiddler and banjo player who influenced generations of old-time musicians.

BRAVEST COWBOY

I am the bravest cowboy that ever trod the West
I've been all round the Rockies, got bullets in my breast

In eighteen hundred and sixty-three I joined the immigrant band
We marched from San Antonio down by the Rio Grande

I went out on the prairie, I learned to rope and ride
I learned to pocket money but I did not dress much fine

I rambled on down to Texas, I learned to rob and steal
And when I robbed that cowboy how happy I did feel

I wore a wide brim high hat, my saddle too was fine
And when I courted that pretty young girl you bet I called her mine

I courted her for beauty for love it was in vain
They carried me down to Dallas to wear that ball and chain

I am the bravest cowboy that ever trod the West
I've been all round the Rockies, got bullets in my breast

Category:

Music

Tags:

• old-time
• music
• banjo
• tune
• song
• pioneer
• wild
• western
• wagon
• train
• outlaw
• robber
• horse
• thief
• rocky
• mountains

[NooGods]

Excellent vid... and great old-time playin'!

[WilliamsGail1]

Thanks for sending the link, Jody. Lovely music and photos - really enjoyed that!

[Swordsmith100]

Not just a great idea, but a superbly engaging and believable performance. Such a breath of fresh air after the screaming, over accompanied spleen-venting kitch we're increasingly served in the name of folk song on this side of The Pond. This is folk song as it should always sound! Thanks for posting. Frank.

[Jantak]

Love this! You guys should tour South Africa where they have a lot of time for this kind of stuff (it sounds very similar to some of their "Boeremusiek").  Also search for "Willie Gumede & His Concertina Band - Umgoboti" here on YouTube to hear a great African song using concertina. But thanks again, now I have to buy the CD.

[stevemills00]

Crikey aren't I blind. This will teach me to not pay attention to the written word. (Clearly written in the video, Jody Kruskal is singing) How stupid am I?

Congratulations Jody, this is a landmark performance. Sufficient to bring a crowd of cattlemen to a respectful silence.

[stevemills00]

This is a masterpiece.

Which one is doing the singing?

[cocusflute]

Wonderful. I have to watch it several times to see the pictures better. This is a terrific idea.

[mikesamwild]

great show Jody and Paul

[AlanJDay]

Nice one Jody,I enjoyed this.

Al