Last of the West Side Cowboys
Chronicles of a Fading Frontier: Georgie Hayde's Journey
Lyrics
Georgie Hayde rose at first light
Georgie Hayde wakes up early
Hung over and hollow.
He is hungover and empty.
All good things must come to an end,
Acknowledging that good things end
But still it’s hard to swallow.
Expressing difficulty in accepting it
He smelled the mighty Hudson
Georgie smells the Hudson River
As he walked toward Death Avenue.
Walking towards Death Avenue
Blood on the streets from the hangin’ beef,
Blood on streets, possibly from a slaughterhouse
And smiles from the tired prostitutes.
Smiles from tired prostitutes
Hey, the past is past
Reflecting on the past
So gather round boys.
Inviting others to join
Let’s all raise a glass
Proposing a toast
To the last of the West Side Cowboys
Toasts the last West Side Cowboys
Georgie Hayde remembered his home
Georgie remembers his home
And how it all went bust
Recalls the downfall
Dismayed, dazed and afraid
Feeling disoriented and fearful
In the Oklahoma dust
Struggling in Oklahoma dust
Consumption took his sweet mama away
His mother succumbs to consumption
And the Free Street Bank took the family farm,
Family farm taken by Free Street Bank
So he hopped aboard an eastbound freight
Georgie boards an eastbound freight
And rode the rails to the Empire State
Rides the rails to the Empire State
Hey, the past is past
Reflecting on the past again
So gather round boys.
Inviting others to join again
Let’s all raise a glass
Proposing another toast
To the last of the West Side Cowboys
Toasts the last West Side Cowboys again
In the winter wind and the summer rain,
Describes Georgie's journey through different weather
Through concrete canyons, he led that train
Leading a train through concrete canyons
Not a single death on his careful watch
Highlights Georgie's successful watch
But maybe that just don’t count for much
Raises doubt on the value of his achievements
Georgie Hayde pondered his fate.
Georgie contemplates his future
What could he do?
Questions his options
Learn a trade? Lead a parade?
Suggests overcoming challenges
Somehow he’d pull through
Georgie remains optimistic
And then Cyclone reared as the steam whistle blew,
Describes a significant event with Cyclone
And the black train strained up the avenue
Describes the final journey up the avenue
He swung his lantern, the children moved aside
Georgie's interaction with children
And Georgie Hayde took one last ride
Georgie takes his last ride
Hey, the past is past
Reflects on the past once again
So gather round boys.
Inviting others to gather again
Let’s all raise a glass
Proposing a final toast
To the last of the West Side Cowboys
Toasts the last West Side Cowboys for the last time
Hey, the past is past
Reiterates reflection on the past
So gather round boys.
Inviting final gathering
Let’s all raise a glass
Proposing one last toast
To Georgie Hayde, the last of the West Side Cowboys
Final toast to Georgie Hayde
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