Ragtime Cowboy Joe

The Chipmunks

About Ragtime Cowboy Joe

"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is a popular song. The lyrics were written by Grant Clarke and the music was composed by Lewis F. Muir and Maurice Abrahams. It was copyrighted and published in 1912 by F. A. Mills. It has been performed by a diverse group of artists, ranging from Bob Roberts in 1912 to The Tune Wranglers, the big band sound of Eddy Howard in 1947 to the comedic recording by The Chipmunks in 1959.


Year:
1959
2:06
133 
#1

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Out in Arizona where the bad men are,
And the only friend to guide you is an Evening Star,
The roughest, toughest man by far
Is Ragtime Cowboy Joe.
Got his name from singing to the cows and sheep
Every night they say he sings the herd to sleep
In a basso rich and deep,
Crooning soft and low

How he sings raggy music to his cattle
As he swings back and forward in his saddle
On his horse (a pretty good horse)
Who is syncopated gaited
And with such a funny meter
To the roar of his repeater

How they run when they hear the feller's gun
Because the western folks all know:
He's a hifalootin' scootin', shootin'
Son-of-a-gun from Arizona
Ragtime cowboy (talk about your cowboy)
Ragtime cowboy Joe.

Dressed up ev'ry Sunday in his Sunday clothes
He beats it for the village where he always goes,
And ev'ry girl in town is Joe's
'Cause he's a ragtime bear;
When he starts a-spieling on the dance hall floor,
No one but a lunatic would start a war
Wise men know his forty-four
Makes men dance for fair.

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The Chipmunks

Alvin and the Chipmunks, originally David Seville and the Chipmunks and billed for their first two decades as the Chipmunks, are an American animated virtual band and media franchise first created by Ross Bagdasarian for novelty records in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks named Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. Bagdasarian provided the group's voices by producing sped-up recordings of his own, a technique pioneered on the successful "Witch Doctor". Later in 1958, Bagdasarian released the similarly engineered "The Chipmunk Song" for which he came up with the chipmunk characters and their human father, attributing the track to them. David Seville and the Chipmunks released several more records over the following decade unti… more »

4 fans

Written by: GRANT CLARKE, MAURICE ABRAHAMS, LEWIS MUIR

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


5 facts about this song

Song Origin
The song "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was initially composed in 1912 by Maurice Abrahams with lyrics by Grant Clarke and Lewis Muir.
Eddy Howard's Version
During the mid-1940s, Eddy Howard recorded a cover of the track, which received significant success. - Eddy Howard's version of the track brought a high-energy, big-band style to the old school ragtime song. - The Eddy Howard Orchestra, along with Howard's charming vocals, gave the song a new life and popularized it among a new generation of listeners.
The Chipmunks' Version
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was also recorded by Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1960. This version peaked at number 16 on the "Billboard Hot 100" and number 13 on the Cashbox Pop Singles charts. - The Chipmunks' version of "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is notably different from other versions due to the distinct high-pitch voices of the animated band. - It was the opening track on their album, "Sing Again with The Chipmunks," and it's known for its playful and light-hearted nature.
Use in Sports
Interestingly, "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is also the fight song for the University of Wyoming, demonstrating its enduring appeal and widespread use. - The song is played by the University's marching band at football and basketball games, adding a lively and upbeat atmosphere to the events.
Impact and Influence
Even though it was composed over a century ago, the song's unique sound and catchy lyrics have helped it longevity. - Both Eddy Howard's and The Chipmunks' versions contributed to the song's legacy by introducing it to new and varied audiences. - Even now, "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" continues to be a well-known tune that transcends generations.

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    Ragtime Cowboy Joe

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1959

    Billboard #16


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