Three Scouts Hiking

One of the oldest of the cowboy songs. It dates back to the years soon after the Civil War when half-wild longhorns were driven from Texas to the shipping points on the new railroads in Kansas. The trail was named after a part Indian trader, Jesse Chisholm.

It went from central Texas, through the center of Oklahoma and into eastern Kansas. Other trails farther to the west eventually replaced it. There were numerous versions of the song, including some not really suitable for Cub Scouts.

Chisholm Trail Heritage Center

CHISHOLM TRAIL

Come along boys and listen to my tale,
I'll tell you 'bout my troubles on the ol' Chisholm trail.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


Oh, a ten-dollar hoss and a forty-dollar saddle,
And I'm goin' to punchin' those Texas cattle.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


I wake in the mornin' afore daylight,
And afore I sleep the moon shines bright.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


It's cloudy in the west, a-lookin' like rain,
And my durned old slicker's in the wagon again.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


Woke up one morn on the ol' Chisholm Trail,
With my head on a hoss and a cow by the tail,

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


Feet in the stirrups and seat in the saddle,
I hung and rattled with them long-horn cattle.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


The wind commenced to blow, and the rain began to fall,
Hit looked, by grab, like we was goin' to lose 'em all.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


I don't give a darn if they never do stop;
I'll ride as long as an eight-day clock.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


We rounded 'em up and put 'em on the cars,
And that was the last of the old Two Bars.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


Oh, it's bacon and beans most every day,
I'd as soon be a-eatin' prairie hay.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


I went to the boss to draw my roll,
He had it figgered out I was nine dollars in the hole.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


Goin' back to town to draw my money,
Goin' back home to see my honey.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.


With my knees in the saddle and my seat in the sky,
I'll quit punchin' cows in the sweet by and by.

Come a ti yi yippee, come a ti yi yea,
Come a ti yi yippee-ippee yea.

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©2003 W. T. Smith