One Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse
Cowboy's Farewell: An Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse
Lyrics
G)Theres one empty cot in the bunkhouse
Someone has passed away, and there's an empty bed in the bunkhouse.
Theres a saddle that (G7) nobody (C) rides
Symbolic reference to the deceased person's unused saddle.
One empty place at the (G) table
Highlighting an empty seat at the table, signifying the absence of the person.
The remuda is five horses (D) shy
The group of horses (remuda) is incomplete, missing five horses.
(G) We turned his string out to pasture
The deceased cowboy's horses are now grazing freely.
He'll never ride em (G7) no (C) more
The horses will no longer be ridden by the departed cowboy.
We buried him out on the hillside (G) last sunday
Describing the burial of the cowboy on a hillside last Sunday.
Another (D) good cowboys gone (G) home
Expressing the loss of another skilled cowboy.
(G) He came on a train to west Texas
The cowboy originally came to West Texas from a farm in East Tennessee.
>From a farm back in (G7) east (C) Tennessee
Details about the cowboy's origin and journey.
All he wanted outa life was to (G) cowboy
The cowboy's primary aspiration was to live a cowboy's life.
He came west to full fill his (D) dream
He traveled west to fulfill his dream of being a cowboy.
(G) He got his first job on the sixes
The cowboy started working on the sixes forty years ago.
That was forty some (G7) odd years (C) ago
Highlighting the cowboy's exceptional skills with unruly horses.
He was the best we ever saw with the (G) bad ones
He was highly proficient with a lasso.
One hell of a hand with a (D) rope
Commending the cowboy's roping abilities.
(G) I saw him just one time in service
Recollection of seeing the cowboy during a significant event.
It was the day that the boss (G7) lady (C) died
Reference to the day the boss lady died.
You could tell by the way, he handled (G) people and horses
Describing the cowboy's adept handling of both people and horses.
He'd made his own deal with his (D) god
Suggesting a personal understanding or connection with a higher power.
(G) Now theres one empty cot in the bunkhouse
Reiteration of the emptiness in the bunkhouse after the cowboy's passing.
Theres a saddle that (G7) nobody (C) rides
Repetition of the symbolic reference to the unused saddle.
One empty place at the (G) table
Re-emphasizing the absence of the cowboy at the table.
The (D) remuda is five horses (G) shy
Confirmation of the incomplete remuda with five missing horses.
(G) He hated to fence and dig post holes
The cowboy disliked mundane tasks but would do them if asked.
He would if he's ask (G7) to of (C) course
Expressing the cowboy's readiness to do undesirable tasks if required.
Then he'd swear how theres nothin in life (G) thats worth doin
Stating the cowboy's belief that meaningful work is done on horseback.
If it can't be done from a (D) horse
Highlighting the cowboy's preference for accomplishing tasks while riding a horse.
(G) He taught me how to top out the bad ones
The cowboy passed on his knowledge of handling difficult horses.
How to tell a good horse (G7) from his (C) eye
Teaching the skill of discerning a good horse by looking into its eyes.
How to watch on the roundup when a (G) cows on the prod
Providing guidance on managing cattle during a roundup.
Shes hidin her baby (D) nearby
Explaining the behavior of a protective mother cow hiding her calf.
(G) Well we ain't changed a thing in the bunkhouse
Resistance to acknowledging the cowboy's absence in the bunkhouse.
We ain't ready to admit (G7) that hes (C) gone
Denial of the cowboy's departure, suggesting an unchanged environment.
His hot roll still lays across the (G) foot of his bed
Reference to the cowboy's personal items still present in the bunkhouse.
His leggins still hang on the (D) wall
Noting the preservation of the cowboy's belongings, like hot rolls and leggings.
(G) But theres one empty cot in the bunkhouse
Reiteration of the void left by the cowboy's absence in the bunkhouse.
Theres a saddle that (G7) nobody (C) rides
Repeating the symbolic mention of the unused saddle.
One empty place at the (G) table
Emphasizing the empty space at the table, underscoring the loss.
The (D) remuda is five horses (G) shy
Confirming the ongoing absence of the cowboy and the incomplete remuda.
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