My friend, Kit Johnson at Kansa Records, an- independent label in Nashville, asked me to write an old fashioned cowboy song. Her exact words were "...Ken, I want the saddest, loneliest cowboy song you can write...something that might have been sung by the Sons of the Pioneers." Some of you really old cowboys may remember this group as the harmonizing cowboys who originally launched a guy named Roy Rogers.

   I told my former neighbor, Joseph, about Kit's request. Joseph was a superb writer who had taught writing and literature at the college level.  He came over a few days later with this poem. I took Joe's words and concepts, sat down at the piano and fashioned a mournful melody to fit them. For the next few days Joe and I  bent his words and my melody so that they would idle together like a well-oiled '38 DeSoto. The result was this song.  Larry Beaird, my favorite demo producer, made the recording.

   The song is a kind of lamentation that tells the story of two times in a cowboy's life when he almost found love. Almost.

   Hope you enjoy our song. 

Out In The Cold.

                                                         Music, copyright 1989 by Ken P.

                                                               Lyrics, copyright 1989 by Joseph F.

Ice like knives, stab the prairie.

Winter storms blow grey and brown.

The air's so cold, Lord it's so cold,

Even birds stick to the ground!

I sit hun-kered in the saddle,

Long John wool and old sheep skin,

The on-ly mercy 'tween my hide

And the wind.

(Chorus)

Out In The Cold,

A big 'ol burrrrr on my soul.

I'm just a lonesome tired old cowboy,

Left Out In The Cold.

Women like a man that's lusty,

Showin' off at rodeo.

She'll hug his spir-it to her body,

And waltze him to and fro.

But a cow-boy ridin' range,

Cain't make a gal to change.

He's got a dance, and one slim chance,

Then off he goes.

(Repeat Chorus)

Out In The Cold,

A big 'ol burrr on my soul.

I'm just a lonesome tired old cowboy,

Left Out In The Cold.

He was ci-ty, I was coun-try.

He was steady, me a clown.

He got some pay come ev-ry Friday,

And me, odd jobs 'round town.

Now when a wo-man has to choose,

'tween lovin' and gold,

She'll take the gold and leave you

Out In The Cold.

(Repeat chorus)

If there's an an-gel for cowboys,

It's time for her to show,

And help this lonesome tired old cowboy,

Left Out In The Cold. 

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