Copyright 1995-2005 - Chuck Pritchard

POETS, BARDS & LIARS

Now, I've had several people come to me

And they tell me " Look what I got, come & see.

It's my Grandpaw's saddle, riggin' & all

I want it fixed up good, so's I can use it to gather in the fall"

The old saddle is rough, it's been around quite awhile

And they ain't no doubt that 'ol Gramp's rode many a mile

I try to explain that it's easier & cheaper to build 'em one anew

No, they ain't havin' that as they stand up real tall

That was 'ol Gramp's saddle, I want to use it to gather in the fall!!!

OK Hand, let's see what we got

Let me get some paper, it's gonna add up to a lot

The leather's all rotten, ain't been soaped, all cracked and dried

So right off the bat, we're gonna need a couple of sides

The lining's all gone, weevils done eat it up

These iron rings, well they ain't nothin' but rust

And the tree is busted, the rawhide split & coming off

Have to get it resoled, boy are they gonna scoff

Look, it's busted again here and cracked down the bar

About now I'm wandering just how sure you are

" Now, I done told you, I want it made new & all

So's I can use it when I gather this fall!!"

OK Punch, this back cinch, well it ain't gonna last

It and them billets is a thing of the past

This here fender is ripped and one stirrup's gone amiss

The horn needs coverin'. Are you sure about this?

"I'll tell you again, I want it made new & all

SO'S I CAN USE IT TO GATHER THIS FALL!!!"

OK Pard, I'll do what ever you say

You're always right & you're the one to pay

I've consulted the tree man and with the leather & all

The bill's a might steep, it ain't real small

The cheapest I can do it, and make a wage too

Is just a little under fourteen hundred smackaroo's

"What, why I could have a new one made cheaper than that

Do you think I ain't got any brains under this here hat?"

Well Button, I can't do double the work for half the money

I've bills to pay and gotta take care of my honey

So let me give you some good advice

And I'll go gentle about it and be pretty nice

See this mark? Looks like a spur track to me

Might be your Grandpaw's, maybe once he lost his seat

And here's a 'squite thorn, buried right up in the swells

He coulda been fightin' one of them Longhorns from hell

And here's some blood, there's no tellin' where it come from

Could be his or maybe belong to a wayward one

That saddle there, well it's a piece of history son

And once I redo it the dirty deeds been done

All the memories are gone; you can't get 'em back

And it'll no longer be your Grandpaw's ol kack

So go get you a stand & put it over against the wall

Look at it and think of all the fun your Grandpaw had………

When he was using it to gather in the fall.