Western Song: I’m an Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande
I’m an Old Cowhand From the Rio Grande is a comic song written by the American lyricist, songwriter, and singer Johnny Mercer for the American Western musical film Rhythm on the Range released by Paramount Pictures. The star of the film, Bing Crosby, sang the song. On July 17, 1936, the commercial recording of Crosby for the song was made with Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra for Decca Records. It became a huge hit in 1936 that reached the number two spot on the charts of the day, and it greatly advanced Mercer’s career. Crosby re-recorded the song in 1954 for his album Bing: A Musical Autobiography. The song ranked # 48 in the list of Top 100 Western songs of all time, chosen by the Western Writers of America.
Background of the Song
Mercer and his wife were driving across the USA to Savannah after apparently failing to succeed in Hollywood. Mercer was delighted to see the cowboys with spurs and ten-gallon hats, driving cars and trucks instead of riding horses. Singing cowboys were famous in movies and on the radio back then, and within 15 minutes, writing on the back of an envelope, Mercer transferred the image he saw to a song whose satirical lyrics released some of his bitter disappointment in Hollywood. The lyrics, about a cowboy in the 20th century who has a little resemblance with cowpunchers of old, are included in several anthologies of lightweight paragraphs.
Popular Recordings
Aside from Bing Crosby, the song has been sung and recorded by many other artists including:
- Roy Rogers (Sons of the Pioneers)
- Sophia Johnson
- Carson Robison
- Bobby Darin
- Tex Ritter
- The Mills Brothers
- Johnnie Ray
- Jack Teagarden
- Patsy Montana
- Frank Sinatra
- Steve Lawrence
- Dan Hicks
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Sonny Rollins
- Ray Conniff
- Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
- UK jazz artist Acker Bilk
Film and Other Appearances of I’m an Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande
The song has been featured or used in some films and television shows including:
- Rhythm on the Range
- Me Feelins is Hurt
- King of the Cowboys
- Paramount Noveltoon
- I Love Lucy
- Innerspace
- Men in Black 3
Listen (Bing Crosby Version)
I’m an Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande Lyrics
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
