Mama Was a Cowgirl

ukulele/harmonica version

Note: This is a song—click on the audio widget above or below to listen to it.
Words, music, ukulele strumming, harmonica, and vocals by Jonathan Potter

portrait of the poet as a young cowboy — photo by mama, 1965

Mama carried me inside her
Nine long months
And never to my knowledge
Complained, not once

When I made my exit
Or entrance as it were
I don’t know who it hurt worse
Me or her

But we both got over it
And happy days came along
Riding over the prairie
And singing her song

Yippie-ti-yi-yay
Get along little baby
I think I shall name you
Jonathan, maybe

A cowboy you’ll be
In your little old boots
With a holster on your belt
And a gun that shoots

Hardtack in your backpack
Rattlesnakes in a gunny sack
You’ll wander the land
And give the gals hoots

Yes my mama was a cowgirl
Tried and true
But she listened to Bach
And Beethoven too

She once shot a man
In a honky-tonk saloon
For malignin’ Mozart
And failin’ to carry a tune

In Wyoming they say
She made a man pay
Ten dollars for every
Wrong note he’d play

She married that man
And he is my pa
Yippie ti yi do
Re mi fa so la

Yippie ti yi yay
Get along little baby
I think I shall call you 
Jonathan, maybe

A cowboy you’ll be
In your little old boots
With a holster on your belt
And a gun that shoots

Hardtack in your backpack
Rattlesnakes in a gunny sack
You’ll wander the land
And give the gals hoots


[click on the audio link to listen to this song]

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