Tyin' Knots In The Devil's Tail - Ramblin' Jack Elliot

Way high up in the Sierry Peaks 
Where the yellow-jack pines grow tall, 
Old Buster Jiggs and Sandy Bob 
Had a round-up camp last fall. 

Well they took along their running irons 
Maybe a dog or two, 
And they 'lowed thy'd brand every long-eared calf 
That came within their view. 

Now every little long-eared dogie 
That didn't push up by day, 
Got his long ears whittled and his old hide scorched 
In a most artistic way. 

One fine day, says Buster Jiggs, 
As he throws his seago down, 
"I'm tired of cow-pyrography 
And I think I'm a goin' into town." 

Well they saddled up, and they hit a lope 
For it warn't no sight of a ride, 
And them was the days that a good cow-punch 
Could oil up his insides. 

Well they started in at Kentucky Bar, 
At the head of Whisky Row, 
And they wound her up at the Depot House 
About forty drinks below. 

Well they sets 'em up and they turns around 
And they started in the other way, 
And to tell the God-forsaken truth 
Them boys got drunk that day. 

They was on their way, goin' back to camp 
A-packin' that awful load, 
When who should they meet but the Devil himself 
Come a-traipsin' down the road. 

He says, "You ornery cowboy skunks 
You better go hunt for your holes, 
'Cause I've come up from Hell's rim rock 
Just to gather in your souls. 

"The Devil be damned," says Buster Jiggs, 
"Us boys is a little bit tight; 
But you don't go gatherin' no cowboys' souls 
Without one helluva fight." 

Now Buster Jiggs could ride like hell 
And throw a lasso, too, 
So he threw it over the Devil's horns 
And he took his dallies true. 

Now Sandy Bob was a reata man 
With his gut-line coiled up neat; 
But he shook her out and he builds a loop 
And he roped the Devils hind feet. 

Well t