Ragtime Cowboy Joe

"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is a popular song composed by Maurice Abrahams in 1912.

The 1912 copyright version published by F.A. Mills credits Lewis F. Muir and Abrahams as composers and Grant Clarke as the lyricist. It was a number-one hit song for singer Bob Roberts in 1912. Over the years, it has been performed by a diverse group of artists, ranging from Eddy Howard to The Chipmunks. "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was also the radio show theme song for New York City's long running Public radio show, "Cowboy Joe's Radio Ranch" hosted by Paul Aaron, New York's Cowboy Joe. He played many versions of the song dating back to one sung by Bob Roberts from a 1919 78 rpm record. He also played versions by the University of Wyoming.

Lyrics Variations

As with many popular songs of the era, only the chorus remains alive in active use. The chorus lyrics vary somewhat depending on the publisher.

One common version of the chorus is:

:He always sings:Raggedy music to the cattle as he swings:Back and forward in the saddle:On a horse, a pretty good horse,:A syncopated gaiter:There's such a funny meter:To the roar of his repeater:How they run:When they hear this fella's gun:Because the western folks all know:Why, he's a high-falootin', scootin, shootin',:Son of a gun from Arizona:Ragtime cowboy:You talk about your cowboys:Ragtime cowboy Joe.

The sheet music published by F.A. Mills lists the chorus slightly differently:

:He always sings:Raggy music to the cattle as he swings:Back and forward in the saddle:On a horse,:That is syncopated, gaited:And there's such a funny meter:To the roar of his repeater:How they run:When they hear that fellow's gun:Because the Western folks all know:He's a high-faluting, scooting, shooting',:Son of a gun from Arizona:Ragtime cowboy Joe.

University of Wyoming Fight Song

"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is also the fight song for the University of Wyoming Cowboys. University of Wyoming fans traditionally stand and clap on the beat while the song is played by the University of Wyoming marching band. The version that is sung by the University of Wyoming is somewhat different:

:Oh how he sings:Raggedy music to his cattle:As he swings:Back and forward in his saddle,:On a horse - a pretty good horse!:That is syncopated gaited,:And it sets a sort of meter:To the roar of his repeater;:How they run - yes run! -:When they hear that fella's gun,:Because the western folks all know,:He's a high-falutin', rootin', tootin',:Son of a gun from ol' Wyoming,:Ragtime Cowboy:Talk about your Cowboy,:Ragtime Cowboy Joe.

Note that the lyrics above are traditional as sung by University choral groups and by students and fans in the stadium stands. The University, however, also lists two different versions of the lyrics:

:He always sings:Ragtime music to the cattle (version 2 has "raggy" music):As he swings:Back and forward in the saddle:On a horse (version 2 gives the echoing "A pretty good horse"):Has a syncopated gator [sic.] (version 2: "He's got a syncopated gaiter"):And you ought to hear the meter:To the roar of his repeater:How they run (version 2 has the echoing "Yes, run!"):When they hear him a-comin':'Cause the western folks all know,:He's a high-falutin', rootin', tootin',:Son of a gun from ol' Wyoming,:Ragtime Cowboy:Talk about your Cowboy,:Ragtime Cowboy Joe.

The Chipmunks' version

"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is the third and final single from The Chipmunks' debut album "Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks". The song was released as a single in 1959. There is a brief line where Dave Seville yells "Alvin! Will you please put that thing down and sing?!"

Chart Performance

After the chart performance of the Chipmunks' last two singles, "The Chipmunk Song" and "Alvin's Harmonica", both of which have managed to reach the Top Ten, it was hoped that "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" would continue their streak of Top Ten hits. Instead the single peaked at #16 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart, which was the group's first single to miss the Top Ten, although it was their third consecutive Top 20 single. The song was also a success on the Billboard Black Singles, peaking at #29. Since the song was also credited to David Seville by Billboard, the song became Seville's fourth consecutive Top 20 single.