Sweet Baby James
Dreams in the Saddle: A Cowboy's Nighttime Serenade
Lyrics
There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range
Introduction of a young cowboy living on the range.
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
His horse and cattle are his main companions.
He works in the saddle and sleeps in the canyons
Describes his work in the saddle and sleeping in canyons.
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change
Anticipation for summer, expecting changes in pastures.
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Under the moon, he reflects, sitting by his fire.
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
Contemplating women and enjoying glasses of beer.
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
Closing eyes as the cattle (doggies) retire.
He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
Singing a soft, clear song, expressing emotions.
As if maybe someone could hear
Expressing a desire for someone to hear the song.
Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Bidding goodnight to moonlight ladies.
Rockabye sweet baby James
Rocking a baby named James to sleep.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Describing preferred colors (deep greens and blues).
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
Expressing a desire to enter dreams.
And rockabye sweet baby James
Repeating the lullaby to baby James.
Now the first of December was covered with snow
Describing a snowy landscape on December 1st.
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Snow covering the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.
The Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
The Berkshires appearing dream-like due to frosting.
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go
Reflecting on the journey with more miles to go.
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
Reference to a song sung when traveling on the highway.
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
Mention of a song for those taking to the sea.
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Song about a home in the sky, possibly a metaphor.
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
Suggesting belief in the song's comforting power.
But singing works just fine for me
Personally finding solace in singing.
So goodnight you moonlight ladies
Reiterating the goodnight to moonlight ladies.
Rockabye sweet baby James
Rocking baby James to sleep once again.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Expressing color preferences in dreams.
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
Asking permission to enter dreams again.
And rockabye sweet baby James
Repeating the lullaby to sweet baby James.
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