A Cowhand & a Fireman – Song Lyric Sunday – Occupations 
https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2019/03/02/response-from-helen/
For today’s SLS we are asked to find songs about occupations (jobs/careers/work). Thanks, Jim!
There are lots of songs that fit the prompt, and the problem was just choosing which one to post about, so I chose these two.
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This is from the information I found on Wikipedia about this fun song:
“I’m an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)” is a comic song written by Johnny Mercer for the film Rhythm on the Range and sung by its star, Bing Crosby. The Crosby commercial recording was made on July 17, 1936 with Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra for Decca Records.[1] It was a huge hit in 1936 reaching the No. 2 spot in the charts of the day,[2] and it greatly furthered Mercer’s career. Crosby recorded the song again in 1954 for his album Bing: A Musical Autobiography.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[3]
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And, this is how I remember this song. It’s a clip of Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, as Lucy and Ethel, all dressed up as cowboys singing the song. They were always so funny together in every episode of this classic TV show.
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I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande But my legs ain't bowed and my cheeks ain't tan I'm a cowboy who never saw a cow Never roped a steer 'cause I don't know how Sure ain't a fixing to start in now Oh, yippie yi yo kayah, yippie yi yo kayah I'm an old cowhand and I come down from the Rio Grande And I learned to ride, ride, ride 'fore I learned to stand I'm a riding fool who is up to date I know every trail in the Lone Star State 'Cause I ride the range in a Ford V 8 Oh, yippie yi yo kayah, yippie yi yo kayah Yippie yi yo kayah, yippie yi yo kayah We're old cowhands from the Rio Grande And we come to town just to hear the band We know all the songs that the cowboys know 'Bout the big corral where the doggies go We learned them all on the radio Yippie yi yo kayah, yippie yi yo kayah I'm an old cowhand (Oh yes, Mr. Bing) (Too hot for you, Uncle Fudd) Down from the Rio Grande Oh where the west is wild all around the borderland Where the buffalo roam around the zoo And the Injuns run up a rug or two And the old Bar X is just a barbecue, yeah Yippie yi yo kayah, yippie yi yo kayah I'm a pioneer who began from scratch I don't bat an eye in a shootin' match They don't call me Elmer, they call me Satch Yippie yi yo kayah, yippie yi yo kayah Get along little horsy Get along little horsy Yippie yi yo kayah, oh
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Being a fireman is an honorable profession, and I’m thankful that so many choose this as their career.
(But, shhh…I don’t think this is what the song is actually about)
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“They Call Me The Fireman”, sung by George Strait, was released from his album, “Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind”, in 1985. It was written by Mck Vickery and Wayne Kemp, and is on the MCA label.
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That’s my name
Makin’ my rounds all over town
Puttin’ out old flamesWell everybody’d like to have what I’ve got
I can cool ’em down while they’re smolderin’ hot
I’m the fireman
That’s my nameLast night they had a bad one a mile or two down the road
Well my buddy walked out and left this woman burnin out of control
Well I was down there in ’bout an hour or so
With a little mouth to mouth she was ready to go
I’m the fireman that’s my nameThey call me the fireman
That’s my name
Makin’ my rounds all over town puttin’ out old flames
Well everybody’d like to have what I’ve got
I can cool ’em down while they’re smolderin’ hot
I’m the fireman that’s my name… Burn ’em upI’ve got fire-engine red t-bird automobile
In a minute or less I can be dressed fit to kill
I work twenty-four on and twenty-four off
When they get too hot, they just give me a call
I’m the fireman, that’s my nameThey call me the fireman, that’s my name
Makin my rounds all over town puttin’ out old flames
Well everybody’d like to have what I’ve got
I can cool ’em down while they’re smolderin’ hot
I’m the fireman, that’s my nameThey call me the fireman
That’s my name.
Love Lucy! Thanks for sharing that funny clip.
Thanks, Janet! One of my favorite shows of all time is ‘I Love Lucy”. The situations they got into were so funny! 🙂
Great songs Barbara, I enjoyed listening to both of them.
Thank you, Jim! Good topic for the prompt…and lots of good songs to choose from 🙂
Such fun!!!
Thanks so much, Mel! Glad you enjoyed these! 🙂