Tyrone and Tyree
I've learned lots of lessons
'Bout cowboyin' up
Cause I've been a cowboy
Since I was a pup
And my dad taught me
Just like his dad taught him
Rewards without effort
Come seldom and slim
And if workin' for wages
Or bossin' a crew
A job left half finished
Reflects upon you
And good leaders of men
Who while bossin' the crew
Won't ask of their men
What they wouldn't do
Cause men are just men
And it's by God's design
We all pull on our britches
One leg at a time
But some men are leaders
While others hold back
They stray off the trail
And are hard to untrack
But with proper persuasion
Will likely fall in
Cause that's just the nature
Of hosses and men
Which put me to thinkin'
'Bout Tyrone and Tyree
The best team of Belgium's
You ever did see
Why they'd lay in those collars
And pull stride for stride
Work sunup to sundown
'Till the day that they died
But Tyree would get balky
Not pull like he should
So Tyrone would reach over
And scold him right good
Then the load they were pullin'
Would even right out
That's the lesson in life
That I'm talkin' about
Cause some hosses are leaders
While some will pull back
They'll stray off the trail
And are hard to untrack
But with proper persuasion
Will likely fall in
See, that's just the nature
Of hosses and men
Which put me to thinkin'
'Bout what dad had said
And a couple of visions
Then danced in my head
In my mirror, while shavin'
Which one will I see
Could I be Tyrone
Or would I be Tyree
And to leaders of men
Let's all raise a cup
Here's to pullin' your weight
And to cowboyin' up
© 2005, Jay Snider, All Rights Reserved
These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.