Ragtime Cowboy Joe

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Ragtime Cowboy Joe is a popular song written by Maurice Abrahams in 1912. It was a number 1 hit song for Bob Roberts in 1912. Over the years, it has been performed by a diverse group of artists, ranging from Eddy Howard to The Chipmunks.

[edit] Lyrics Variations

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.

"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:

He always sings

Raggy music to the cattle

As he swings

Back and forward in the saddle,

On a horse - a pretty good horse!

He's got a syncopated gaiter,

And you ought to hear the meter

To the roar of his repeater;

How they run - yes run! -

When they hear him 'a-comin',

Cause the western folks all know,

He's a high-falootin', rootin, tootin',

Son of a gun from ol' Wyoming,

Ragtime Cowboy

Talk about your Cowboy,

Ragtime Cowboy Joe.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.