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07 February, 2009

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering


Friday, February 6, 2009

How to get in trouble in a Western town


Kraig Sundberg, a dance teacher from Bellevue, taught two step and pony swing with Nancy Kern of Hailey at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Photo by Dana DuGan

Me and a friend was meeting 'nother gal

Headed to Elko, heard Asleep at the Wheel,

Got a room at the Stockman with our pal.

Heard right fine music, and the poetry spiel.

Rodney recited, Corb sang 'bout a cowboy's life.

Tom Russell crooned, brought his 21-year-old wife.


You got to dance with who brung you


Sunny and warm under blue Nevada sky,

Wylie yodeled and Ian Tyson was fly

Baxter Black rode on back, everyone a waitin'.

as cowboy poets celebrated 25 years of recitating.


Boy howdy, if it's trouble you're a wantin',

All you have ta do is go for the swing.

If you're in a small Western town

Find dance teachers who'll spin you 'round.

Sayin' 'Girls are always right, men go left.'

We two-stepped along feeling perdy deft.


You got to swing with who swung you


Nary a horse in sight but legs were all bowed.

At the Folklife Center, heavy spurs clinked

while hats, buckles with turq-eyes glowed

and cowboys graciously bought all the drinks.

Between grass and sky, and not a blame sight

We were treated to dances all the dern night.


Liberal slots and art galleries, a cowgirl went goth.

We spun on the dance floor cutting a swath

with one graceful dude in a shocking toupeé

who we saw the next mornin' in Joe Cowboy's café.


Dance with who brung you to the bash


If your feet are right under you, life's easier to plum

Though harder if you dance to your own drum.

Did I mention the music of the cowboy Corb Lund?

And you best believe we had a lot of fun.

—Isadora Foe

Lyrics by Asleep at the Wheel

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I really like cowboy stuff having been a cowboy for a bit and an Indian for a lot longer.

Ketchum. It is either where ketchup was invented or where Hemingway ended his days. Cant remember which although ketchup is indonesian if I can recall.