Lead Belly - Western Plain

〈Verse 1〉
When I was a cowboy
Out on the western plains
When I was a cowboy
Out on the western plains
I made a half a million
Pullin' on the bridle reins

〈Chorus〉
Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

〈Verse 2〉
I went to my girl's house
She was rockin in a rockin chair
Went to my girl's house
She was rockin in a rockin chair
Oh, western cowboy
Please don't you leave me here

〈Chorus〉
Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

〈Verse 3〉
Oh, the hardest battle
Was there ever on the western plains
Oh, the hardest battle
Was there ever on the western plains
When me an a bunch of cowboys
Run into Jesse James
〈Chorus〉
Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

〈Verse 4〉
When me an a bunch of cowboys
Run into Jesse James
When Me an a bunch of cowboys
Run into Jesse James
All the bullets was a-fallin'
Just like a shower rain

〈Chorus〉
Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

〈Verse 5〉
Woah the hardest battle was ever on 〈.?.〉 Hill
Woah the hardest battles was ever on 〈.?.〉 Hill
When me and a bunch of cowboys run in to Buffalo

〈Chorus〉
Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea
〈Bridge〉
The boys headed in for a man on the outskirts of town
All around that man's them house horses was a'walkin and them 45s was a'talkin
They done made the horses drunk, and they was already drunk
And the 45s was drunk
〈.?.〉 a sign with the best regards to the man's house

〈Verse 6〉
If your house catches fire and ain't no water round
House caches on fire and ain't no water round
Throw your jelly out the window, let the doggone shack burn down

〈Chorus〉
Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

Come a cow-cow-yicky
Cow-cow-yicky-yicky-yea

Leadbelly was a folk-blues musician who began playing instruments at a young age, eventually mastering his signature 12 string guitar.

While serving time for murder in 1925, he was pardoned by the Governor of Texas. The governor had visited the prison several times to hear Leadbelly sing, and Leadbelly later maintained that he won over the governor with his song “Please Pardon Me.”

Huddie Ledbetter aka “Leadbelly” earned his nickname for violent behavior and ability to drink moonshine. Leadbelly didn’t sell many records, but his folk music was later discovered and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was known to be heavily influenced by Leadbelly. Most famously, “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” was covered by the band during their MTV Unplugged performance.

Nirvana covered two other Leadbelly songs, “Ain’t It A Shame” and “They Hung Him on a Cross”.