“This is the last cowboy song, the end of a hundred year waltz. Voices sound sad as they’re singing along, another piece of America’s lost…..” by Ed Bruce
Link to YouTube Video
I was listening to Willie’s Roadhouse the other day on Sirius XM radio when this song started to play. It brought tears to my eyes, but more than that, it made me think about how the historical genre of writing, plays a huge role in allowing us to hold on to a way of life that is now in the past.
I love reading stories about wars over fences with many believing there should be no fences at all. Gun battles in the middle of the street when a man had broken his word, and always a lovely lady waiting in the wings to take care of her rugged cowboy. It was truly a time when things were more black and white and a much simpler way of life.
There is no doubt life was hard back then. Even the simplest of chores became difficult tasks, such as washing the family’s clothes or building a fire to cook a meal. And yet, we are drawn back to that time.
We travel many miles to stay in bed and breakfast inns far removed from civilization and although they have modern conveniences, we feel as though we’ve taken a step back in time.
The words of the song go on to say, “Remington showed us how he looked on canvas and Louis L’Amour has told us his tale…”
A Charles Russell Painting
We’ve been given poignant glimpses into this piece of American history through the eyes of the famous painter, Frederic Remington as well as Charles Russell and the photography of John C H Grabill. Then came Louis L’Amour who made the Wild West come alive again through his stories. He brought famous cowboys blazing their way across the frontier into our living rooms and into our heart. He gave new life to forgotten tales and adventures.
A Remington Painting
A Pioneer Farm Home in Kansas – Photo by John CH Gabrill
More words of the song. “The Old Chisolm Trail is covered in concrete now and they truck ‘em to market in fifty foot rigs. They blow by his marker never slowing to read, like living and dying was all he did…”
I love to stop and read historical markers. I’m always amazed at the events that took place on any particular piece of ground. In our daily rush of life, we can pass right by without taking time to stop, reflect and pay tribute to the ones that dedicated their entire lives to settling the country that we take so much for granted.
As you can see, this song touched me deeply and served as a reminder of a past time that is dying or gone. Yet, we can keep it alive through stories and songs.
“This is the last cowboy song, the end of a hundred year waltz….”
