Ragtime Cowboy Joe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" |
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1912 sheet music
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| Song | |
| Published | 1912 by F.A. Mills Publishing |
| Genre | Western swing, pop |
| Songwriter(s) | Grant Clarke |
| Composer(s) | Lewis F. Muir, Maurice Abrahams |
Ragtime Cowboy Joe is a very popular pop and western swing song. Grant Clarke wrote the words, and Lewis F. Muir and Maurice Abrahams created the music. The song was first published in 1912 by F.A. Mills.
Contents
Who Sang This Song?
Many different singers and groups have recorded "Ragtime Cowboy Joe." Some famous artists include Bob Roberts (in 1912), Pinky Tomlin (1939), and Jo Stafford (1949). Even the Chipmunks recorded it in 1959! You might also have heard it sung by Betty Hutton in the 1945 movie Incendiary Blonde.
How the Song Started
The writers of "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" also wrote another famous song called ""Second Hand Rose"." The idea for "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" came about in Brooklyn. Maurice Abrahams' nephew, Joe Abrahams, visited him wearing a cowboy outfit. Maurice was so inspired by his nephew's look that he decided to write the song.
When it first came out, "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was a huge hit. It became the number-one song for singer Bob Roberts and was the second best-selling record of 1912.
Original Song Words
Like many old songs, the first part (called the verse) is often left out. The main part (called the refrain) can also change a little depending on who is singing it.
Here is the main part of the song:
- He always sings
- Raggy music to the cattle
- As he swings
- Back and forward in the saddle
- On a horse
- That's a syncopated gaiter
- There's-a such a funny meter
- To the roar of his repeater.
- How they run
- When they hear his gun
- Because the Western folks all know
- He's a high-falutin', rootin', shootin',
- Son of a gun from Arizona,
- Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
Sometimes, you might hear small changes in the words. For example, "Where the bad lands are" instead of "Where the bad men are." Or "scootin' shootin'" instead of "rootin' shootin'."
College Fight Songs
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is also a popular fight song for some colleges!
University of Wyoming Song
The University of Wyoming uses "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" as its official fight song. When the Wyoming's Western Thunder Marching Band plays it, fans stand up and clap along.
A man named Francis Edwin Stroup rewrote the chorus for the University of Wyoming in 1961. He used to be a professor there. He also wrote fight songs for other universities, like the University of North Texas.
Here are the words Stroup wrote for the University of Wyoming:
- (for the Cowboys)
- C! O! W! B! O! Y! S!
- COWBOYS! COWBOYS! COWBOYS!
- (for the Cowgirls)
- C! O! W! G! I! R! L! S!
- COWGIRLS! COWGIRLS! COWGIRLS!
University of California, Davis Song
The Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! at the University of California, Davis also has its own version of the song:
- He's a high-falutin', rootin' tootin'
- Son of a gun from California
- He's some cowboy
- Talk about your cowboy
- Ragtime Cowboy Joe
The Chipmunks' Version
| "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" | ||||
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| Single by David Seville and the Chipmunks | ||||
| from the album Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks | ||||
| B-side | "Flip Side" | |||
| Released | 1959 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:06 | |||
| Label | Liberty | |||
| Composer(s) | Lewis F. Muir, Maurice Abrahams | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Grant Clarke | |||
| Producer(s) | Ross Bagdasarian Sr. | |||
| The Chipmunks singles chronology | ||||
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"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was the third song released as a single from the Chipmunks' first album. It came out in 1959. The Chipmunks had two big hits before this song. "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" reached number 16 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart. It also did well on the Billboard Black Singles chart, reaching number 29.
Because David Seville (who created the Chipmunks) was also credited, this was his fourth song in a row to make it into the Top 20. The song even reached number 11 in the UK! This was the first Chipmunks song to chart in the UK until 1992.
