Night Herding Song

[Spoken Intro]
You couldn't get near one of them broncs with a guitar, no how. So most of them cowboy songs was sung around a campfire, y'know. Cowboys didn't have many work songs; I never heard none, 'cept maybe this one. It's called the Night Herding Song

You know, those longhorn cattle were liable to stampede at the slightest provocation. Sometimes it was a storm—thunder and lightnin' would get 'em up, get 'em on their feet and off. Sometimes they would spook at somethin' that nobody knew what it was, maybe a tiny little, small animal would spark up near the herd and one of the cows would spook at him and they'd be up like a shot. So the cowhands would sleep with their boots on, spurs on, and their hand on the horse's bridle, horse's saddle and bridle, ready to run

And the night herd was out there on his horse, lookin' out on the herd and singin' to 'em to soothe 'em
So if y'all just make believe you're a bunch of cattle, I'll sing this song

[Sung]
Oh say, little dogies, why don't you lay down?
You've wandered and trampled all over the ground
Lay down, little dogies, lay down

I've cross-herded, trail-herded, an' circle-herded too
But to keep you together, that's what I can't do
My horse is leg-weary, and I'm awful tired
But, if I let you get away, I'm sure to get fired
Bunch up, little dogies, bunch up