Female Speaker: From the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Peggy Bulger: Welcome, welcome. I'm Peggy Bulger, and I'm director of American Folklife Center here at the Library of Congress and we're so happy to have you here for our Homegrown Concert, our latest Homegrown Concert. This is a series that we put together to present the very best of traditional music and dance that's happening at the turn of the 21st century. All of these concerts are actually an acquisition project for us. We are recording these for the collections at the American Folklife Center and a hundred years from now, people who want to know what kind of traditional music and dance was around at the turn of this century, this will be here. We'll also very much sooner than that have these up on the web as webcasts. So if you know of somebody whose maybe missing this please do let them know that this concert will be up fairly soon on the Library of Congress's Web site. We work collaboratively on this project with the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center and tonight at six o'clock the group here will be performing also at the Millennium Stage. But we are -- in all the many talented groups that we've had, we now have covered all 50 states and today we are welcoming a group from the great state of Wyoming, and I want to thank Senator Mike Enzi and his staffers for coming. And do you want to give a shout out or a wave out. Senator Enzi. [applause] We really are happy to present the grassroots culture from all of our states. And the Bar J Ramblers -- Wranglers, actually are a group that if you haven't heard them before you're going to be absolutely astounded. We are actually continuing a long tradition here at the Library of Congress of inviting great artists to perform right here on the Coolidge Auditorium stage. And you may not know this, but back in the 1938 Alan Lomax, who is a very famous folklorist who is the head of the archive at the time, presented Jelly Roll Morton, and Lead Belly, and Woody Guthrie right from this stage, so we're continuing this tradition and we think that 50 years from now, 100 years from now, this particular performance will amaze and astound folks who access our collections. I also wanted to let you know that the Bar J Wranglers are also going to be performing tomorrow at Walter Reed Hospital, and then on Sunday they're going to perform at Wyer [spelled phonetically] Veteran's Hospital in Richmond. So they're really making the most of this trip out east and their giving back in many ways. And so to introduce you to the group, we -- I have to tell you that we also work collaboratively with the state folklorists in all of the states, and we have with us Annie Hatch. Annie is the folk and traditional arts programs specialist at the Wyoming Arts Council, and she'll just introduce the group. So please welcome Annie Hatch from Wyoming. [applause] Annie Hatch: Thank you Peggy, and I want to thank the Library of Congress. It is such an awesome honor to be here and to be able to present the Bar J Wranglers in our nation's capital. As the state folklorist in Wyoming I was asked to recommend someone who would represent Wyoming well, and there's no one like the Bar J Wranglers that will -- could do the job as well as they do. Wyoming is the Cowboy State and so that's why the cowboy music has such a strong tradition there. We were the end of the road for the historic cattle drives of the 1800s. We are also the setting for The Virginian, which is the classic cowboy mythic tale of these days. And today all of our off ramps on our interstate end with cattle guards, because they open up into the open range. And soccer moms, such as myself, wear carharts on the sidelines of our soccer games, because of the wind and the work that is done in Wyoming. So we're all a little bit cowboy even during the day. You'll see what the gentlemen are wearing today would be considered black tie in Wyoming, and car hearts would be more of the everyday wear. The history of Wyoming includes ranching as part of its settlement, and alongside ranching is also guest ranches. In Jackson Hole, the homesteading began in 1908, and the first guest ranch opened in 1908. So giving dudes and long-term visitors an opportunity to ride the ranges and herd cattle and work with horses has been something that's very much part of our history, and providing an authentic western experience to our visitors has been a very important part of Wyoming's history and Wyoming's economy. When the agricultural depression happened after World War II, followed by many years of drought, a lot of the working ranches foreclosed and those that didn't foreclose were the ones that began wrangler guests alongside wrangling their cattle. And are still many are in operation today. When the new tourism started in the 50s is when we started to see the trail rides and the Chuck Wagon dinners and providing at this authentic western experience, sort of in short-term, not the long month-long dude experience, but short-term experiences to our travelers and our guests. And now the Bar J Wranglers really set the stage at a high bar in terms of what they provide to visitors and also the repeat guests that they have throughout their summer months when they perform every night May through September to over 750 people. So their town of Wilson, 200 people, triples every night as they perform this Western music and serve western-style dinner. So I'm very thrilled that the Bar J Wranglers are here today. They'll be hosted by the founder of the Bar J Wranglers, Babe Humphrey, and he'll give a little bit of the family history and the history of the music to you, so please welcome to the stage Babe Humphrey and the Bar J Wranglers from Wilson, Wyoming. [applause] Babe Humphrey: Thank you, lady, for that beautiful introduction, and it's such a privilege for us to come here and -- in this hall of fame here at the -- it's just amazing to us to be invited out to share with you some of our western heritage. And she mentioned I am Babe Humphrey, and I'm here to proudly brag and on our state of Wyoming. Of course we're from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, one of the main heartbeats of Wyoming, I guess you call it. We do host a lot of people from all over the world and we started the Chuckwagon some thirty-odd years ago, but the ranch we're on, the working cattle ranch, the old Hartiman Ranch [spelled phonetically] was actually homesteaded in the Jackson Hole area around 1912, if I'm not mistaken. But we're going to bring you some songs and stories of the old west. Some you folks probably have never heard some of these songs. But we like the harmonies, we like to sing them, we love them, and I'm very proud to say my two sons kind of are taking over the range. They weren't born when we started singing these old songs years ago, but I'm glad that they enjoy these songs, that they love the music and now they're kind of running the place and as long as they give me a check I'm happy. [laughter] Male Speaker: Exactly right. So to start things off, Scott, my oldest son, will brine on the end there, and my adopted son, here, Tim, and of course Danny and Donny here. These fellas will introduce individually as we go through the program to kind of show off their cowboy talent. But don't you do about three or four songs, here. Just get it started. Male Speaker: Will do, we'll just get started with a song we start out at our place every night that just kind of paints a picture of a cowboy out there on the trail after a long, hard day in the saddle, gazing up at the stars and dreaming about heading for the last round up. You guy's ready? Bar J Wranglers: I'm heading for the last round up. [music] We're gonna saddle old paint for the last time and ride. So long old pal, it's time your tears were dry I'm heading for the last round up. Get along little doggie, get along, get along Get along little doggie, get along Get along little doggie, get along, get along Get along little doggie, get along I'm heading for the last round up To the far away ranch of the boss in the sky Where the strays are counted And branded there go high I'm heading for the last round up. Get along little doggie Get along little doggie Get along. All right fellas! [applause] Male Speaker: Thank you, folks. Male Speaker: Very nice. Thank you kindly. Male Speaker: Ready boys? [music] Bar J. Wranglers: Hear my song as I ride along I'm just a happy rovin' cowboy Herdin' the dark clouds out of the sky Keepin' the heavens blue. Nowhere to go nothing to do I'm a happy rovin' cowboy Let me ride that long trail down to the end Where the skies are always blue Now I got a wife, she's the light of my life I'm a happy rovin' cowboy Let me make our bed where the varmints prowl Beneath the skies of blue Hear my song as I ride along I'm just a happy rovin' cowboy Herdin' the dark clouds out of the sky Keepin' the heavens blue [music] I ain't got a dime, just spending my time I'm just a happy rovin' cowboy Going to sing my song 'till they carry me home To the land beyond the blue At the end of the day we'll sing your troubles away We're just happy rovin' cowboys Leave your cares behind, sit back and unwind Spend some time with the ol' Bar J's Hear my song as I ride along I'm just a happy rovin' cowboy Herdin' the dark clouds out of the sky Keepin' the heavens blue Keepin' the [applause] Male Speaker: Wow, you're a good bunch. [music] Bar J Wranglers: Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Over mountain high, down the canyon wide Let me roam and ride, ride through timber When the day is done, by the campfire's gleam Let me lie and dream, dream of timber. Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring All nature sings a song along the timber trail Blue shadows fallin', down the canyon vale And the whispering pines entwine along the Timber Trail. High in the sky above The love song of the trees Will blend and wend its way out on the breeze. Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring All nature sings a song along the Timber Trail. [music] High in the sky above The love song of the trees Will blend and wend its way Out on the breeze. Tall timber's callin', and the echoes ring All nature sings a song along the Timber Trail. The Timber Trail. Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber Timber [applause] Babe Humphrey: All right. Male Speaker: Thank you folks! Male Speaker: That's a good bunch, isn't it? Babe Humphrey: Kind of a samplin' of some of the cowboy's songs, and of course cowboys wrote songs about all kinds of things: State of Wyoming, you know the Timber Trail. They also wrote songs about their workplace, you know, they worked with cattle. They worked with horses. And we've got to give you an example of maybe one or two of those workin' cowboy songs about their stock as Scott do -- you know one about the horses. Male Speaker: Let's see. Well, we got the song about the meanest horse that every jumped out of a rodeo gate. Babe Humphrey: That's right. We all get a chance to ride him here, too. Male Speaker: Well, we're going to try. Here comes Sky Ball paint. [music] Bar J Wranglers: Singin' ti yay, yippie ti yo, Ride him high and down you go, Sons of the western soil. Sons of the western soil. Now Sky Ball Paint was a devil's saint, and his eyes were a fiery red. Good men have tried that nag to ride But most of them are dead. (Hang on now!) Now I won't brag but I rode that nag till his blood began to boil. Then I hit the ground and I ate three pounds Of good old western soil. Singin' ti yay, yippie ti yo, Ride him high and down you go, Sons of the western soil. Sons of the western soil. In town one day I chanced to stray upon old Sherriff Jim. For a hoot and a holler and a counterfeit dollar I sold that nag to him. But when he plants the seat of his pants in Sky Ball's leather chair, I'll bet four bits when Sky Ball quits Old Jim ain't going to be there. Singin' ti yay, yippie ti yo, Ride him high and down you go, Sons of the western soil. Sons of the western soil. [music] So I swore the heck, I'd break his neck for the jolt he gave my pride. I threw my noose on that old Cayuse And once more took a ride. Soon I found he turned around, his tail where his head should be So, says I, perhaps he's shy Or he just don't care for me. Singin' ti yay, yippie ti yo, Ride him high and down you go, Sons of the western soil. Sons of the western soil. Well now Sky Ball Paint has passed away, but there's plenty more like he. Sky Ball lived for 40 years The bad men all run free. Where the bees and the bats wore Stenson hats, and there ain't no law you see Where the desert ants where but-skinned pants Well that's the land for me. Singin' ti yay, yippie ti yo, Ride him high and down you go, Sons of the western soil. Sons of the western soil. [yodeling] Sons of the western soil. Sons of the western soil. [applause] Male Speaker: Thank you. What a great bunch. Male Speaker: Thank you, boys. Male Speaker: We kind of through the -- Babe Humphrey: Not sure about that little boop-boop you boys put in there. Male Speaker: Yeah, what in Sam Hill is that all about? [laughter] Male Speaker: It's not normally part of -- we were trying to get back -- this is maybe too formal of a setting to through that in. He yodels and it's hard to keep up. We try to harmonize with him but -- Babe Humphrey: That right there is a product of hard work. Male Speaker: That's all we got for you, Brian. Male Speaker: It takes a lot of hot air to yodel like that. I'll just leave it that. Babe Humphrey: I just found out this morning, you [unintelligible] have do that after five donuts. [laughter] Male Speaker: You ate five donuts? Babe Humphrey: I had to. Male Speaker: That will gob up a yodel. Male Speaker: It will. Babe Humphrey: You know, folks, one thing about these guys: they're are not found at some talent agency. We've spend many years looking for real genuine cowboys that can do this type thing. And all of them individually have a lot of talent, and I will mention that every one of these fellers were born and raised in cattle country. They know the life. They've lived it. I want to introduce the newest member. We call him our newest member; he's really not too new. He's used. [laughter] Male Speaker: He looks like 40 miles of bad road. [laughter] Babe Humphrey: But Danny comes to us from the big town in Wyoming. We got a lot of big towns out there folks, you know. But we do have more cattle than people in our state. We're proud of that. But he's from a little town called Chugwater, Wyoming. I'm not sure too many people know about that. [applause] Male Speaker: You're all lying. People from his hometown never heard of it. [laughter] Male Speaker: That's true. Babe Humphrey: It's a small town. Male Speaker: Does it even qualify as a town? Male Speaker: Oh, there's a town there. Male Speaker: It hasn't made rest stop status yet. [laughter] Male Speaker: It's tiny. Babe Humphrey: But Donny is a -- Male Speaker: Danny. Babe Humphrey: Danny is a great addition to the Bar J Wranglers, and we're proud of him. And I want you to listen to the quality of his voice on this next song. This is an old song. Some of you've heard this one. It's been around a long time. But the arrangement these fellas do with the harmonies and his great approach to a song that we hope you'll like. It's called "Mariah." [music] Bar J Wranglers: Way out here they got a name for rain and wind and fire. The rain is Tess, the fire is Joe and they call the wind Mariah. Mariah blows the stars around and sends the clouds a-flyin'. Mariah makes the mountains sound like folks are out there dyin'. Mariah. (Mariah). Mariah. (Mariah). They call the wind Mariah. Before I knew Mariah's name and heard her wail and whinin' I had a girl and she had me and the sun was always shinin'. But then one day I left my girl. I left her far behind me. And now I'm lost, so doggone lost not even God can find me. Mariah. (Mariah). Mariah. (Mariah). They call the wind Mariah. [music] Out here they got a name for rain, for wind and fire only. But when you're lost and all alone, there ain't no word for lonely. And I'm a lost and lonely man without a star to guide me. Mariah blow my love to me. I need my girl beside me. Mariah. (Mariah.) Mariah. (Mariah.) They call the wind Mariah. Mariah! Mariah. Blow my love to me. [applause] Babe Humphrey: Mighty fine, Danny. Male speaker: That's Mr. Roger. Male Speaker: Thank you. Male Speaker: [inaudible] Male Speaker: That's a big voice right there. We're proud of him. Thank ya. Boy, I like that when it gets down to the bottom -- low end. Babe Humphrey: He's a bottom feeder. [laughter] Male Speaker: Stop it! Babe Humphrey: You know, folks, 20 -- about 21 years or so ago I happened to by one of our little county fairs we have in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And we have a lot of fairs in Wyoming today. The west still lives there 4-H, and those kind of clubs are a big part of our families still in Wyoming. But I was by the fair, kind of wandering around. They had a little fiddle contest going on over there by one of the [unintelligible] huts. I walked in and listened to the fiddle players, and Tim Hodgson, our fiddle player, was in that contest. Just a young buck. Not too big. Played very well. And I said Tim, you've got to come work at the ranch, because we need the real people that worked the ranch, the cowboys and he's been with us every year now for the last 21 years and a great, great talent. And he's earned a lot of trophies, now. Tell them about that. Male Speaker: He's got a lot of trophies. Collected in his basement he's gathered over the years. Male Speaker: He bought some more this morning. [laughter] Male Speaker: I was not buying trophies. Male Speaker You did too. Male Speaker: I was not, I was looking for presidential bobble heads. They didn't have any either. [laughter] Babe Humphrey: Tim gets in the fiddle contest. They have national contests all over this fair United States of ours. And we're proud to mention the fact that he's the, what? Two-time national all-time fiddle champion. Male Speaker: U.S. Open Fiddle Champion. Babe Humphrey National champion. [applause] He's won all kinds of those. Babe Humphrey: Tim, why don't you kind of pick one that you get a lot of request for a lot of fiddle songs, but in the fiddlin' world, what's your most requested and pick one of those for these folks. Male Speaker: Tim, I'd just do that one you know... Babe Humphrey: Oh come on. [laughter] Male Speaker: Can you turn his mic off, down there? [Laughs] You know we ought to do one, I was kind of thinking about that this afternoon, which one we might want to mess with and what do you think about doing "Listen to the Mockingbird"? We hadn't done it in a while. If you guys remember the chords to it, we can give it a run. Male Speaker: Oh yeah. Trust me, he makes us sound like a bunch of birds. Male Speaker: I have no idea what's about to happen, here. [laughter] Male Speaker: Bryan, we're out here in the nation's capital and you're telling me you don't 'member the chords to -- Male Speaker: No. [laughter] Male Speaker: Well go sit down, what good are you? [laughter] Male Speaker: What key is it in? Male Speaker: We're going to do it in D, Brian. You remember. [music] Male Speaker: Fine, go ahead. I'll just play a bunch of D's over here. [laughter] [music] Male Speaker: Are you doing something? [music] Male Speaker: Woodpecker. [music] [applause] Male Speaker: Boy. Man, I'll tell you what. Male Speaker: Thank you. I appreciate that. Oh thank you folks, that's nice. That's fun. Male Speaker: That's our fiddlin' man. Tim Hodgson. Male Speaker: Man, you had some fast ones in there. Male Speaker: We had to put the road runner in that one. Babe Humphrey: That's some Wyoming fiddle playing for you from a guy that's talented and from the heart of Wyoming's green. You know folks, there's a lot of cowboy songs that are not necessarily up-tempo. There's some beautiful songs about our state. This one was written by a fellow named Gene Kwa [spelled phonetically]. He was a music director at Bosem [spelled phonetically] College years ago, but great fans of ours. And he wrote some western songs, and this particular song -- I'm going to have Scott do this. He's our ballade singer. Male Speaker: That's right. Babe Humphrey: -- more or less. And he also sings the high part. He's the Tenor singer. Male Speaker: See you guys. He's way up here it sounds like a little girl singing. [laughter] Male Speaker: Over the rainbow. Male Speaker: Will you stop that. Babe Humphrey: How do you do that? Male Speaker: What it takes to be skinny. He's the skinny one of the bunch. Babe Humphrey: Beautiful voice on a beautiful song and so from Wyoming to you. Out west to here east, I guess, how about that song of "Old Wyoming?" One of my favorite songs. Male Speaker: Old Wyoming? Babe Humphrey: Old Wyoming. Male Speaker: Old Wyoming, that's a pretty one. I'll kick it off on this harmonica. We haven't done this in a while. If I can remember how to make this thing work. Male Speaker: Just blow into it. [laughter] Male Speaker: [inaudible] [music] Bar J Wranglers: There's a place where mother nature She's got it all together She knows just when to let wild flowers bloom Somehow she always seems to know Exactly what she's doing And the lorts [spelled phonetically] are fit to furnish elbow room Have you ever been in town to Old Wyoming? I spend a lot of time there in my mind And if God doesn't live in Old Wyoming I'll bet that's where he spends most of his time [music] I'd like to be there watching Early in the morning When the sun comes up to crown the mountain king And if by chance you dare to be high on a mountain I swear that you could hear the angels sing Have you ever been down to Old Wyoming? I spend a lot of time there in my mind And if God doesn't live in Old Wyoming I'll bet that's where he spends most of his time I'll bet that's where he spends most of his time [applause] Babe Humphrey: Beautiful Song. Male Speaker: It's a pretty old song. Male Speaker: You got a good do on that Scott. That's pretty now. Male Speaker: Thank you. Babe Humphrey: There are so many Wyoming songs; I made a little error on that. That song was not written by Jean Kwa, but some other Wyoming songs that we do, but I wanted to make that point, 'cause this is recorded we can't say Jean Kwa wrote that song. [laughter] Male Speaker: That's right. Babe Humphrey: I want introduce my younger son over there. The guy on the base. Male Speaker: Hey. Babe Humphrey: We didn't know he could yodel hardly at all, but he's a great song writer, and he's also won some cutting horse contests trophies around the country, and he also is -- well I don't want to talk too much about him. [Laughs] Male Speaker: No, it'll go to his head. Babe Humphrey: Scott, or Bryan, why don't you pick a song that you -- maybe a yodel song that you do, you know so many. Male Speaker: One that I wrote? Male Speaker: Yeah, do one you wrote. Male Speaker: Yeah, there you go. Male Speaker: Let's put her in D, boys. Lets tell them a true story how I learned how to yodel. Male Speaker: Oh! You want to do -- Babe Humphrey: Yeah. Male Speaker: [inaudible] Babe Humphrey: Never land on the saddle horn again. Male Speaker: No! [laughter] Male Speaker: Quite horsin' around. Do a song that you yodeled in. Babe Humphrey: Well let's tell them the true, true story of how I learned how to yodel then. Male Speaker: From the square dance. Babe Humphrey: That's right. Male Speaker: Oh this will be good. [music] Male Speaker: This is called "Lulla Belle" [spelled phonetically]. Bar J Wranglers In Jackson Hole, Wyoming there's a gal named Lulla Belle Now she has had her eye on me since I was only twelve She taught me how to yodel in the most peculiar way It made a deep impression, I remember to this day. Well it happened at the square dance in the midst of the dosey-do See everytime I dosey she's do right on my toe I tried to hoop and holler to cover up the pain From what I Heard it sounded like a yodel in refrain But she taught me to yodel [yodeling] She taught me to yodel [yodeling] I have had my share of mishaps from right and wrong and such But the pain that they inflicted, well it never hurt as much As it did when Lulla stepped upon my feet Them big old prongs they weigh a lot, but ol' Lulla got'em beat Now please don't get me wrong, folks, I'm ain't one to nit and pick But judging by her cover, well I'd say that book is thick I think what must have happened it really is quite clear Her mama must of dropped her on an awful good grass year But she taught me to yodel [yodeling] She taught me to yodel [yodeling] Well the dance is almost over and I'm fighting back a tear My poor old feet are aching from good ol' Lulla dear My mama, well she taught me always be polite Compliment your partner at the end of the night It's the gentlemanly thing to do. I need to say the right thing to this redheaded she My mind has drawn a blank, it land what good can be Befuddled confused for compliments and such Says I for a great big gal you sure don't sweat that much But she taught me to yodel [yodeling] She taught me to yodel [yodeling] [yodeling] [applause] Male Speaker: How about that? Male Speaker: Boy howdy! Male Speaker: Thank you very much I appreciate that and everything. Male Speaker: That you for your support. [laughter] Thank you, Dan, I was hung up again. Male Speaker: I told you those donuts would do that. Male Speaker: He yodel -- that song he wrote. It kind of stems from what we have out in Wyoming. There's a lot of cowboy poetry out in Wyoming, and we do a lot of that out at our place, especially when Dad was still working the ranch out there. Now dad has retired from the stage chores out at our place, and he -- I would like to talk you into doing one of your cowboy poems. Babe Humphrey: Oh my goodness. Male Speaker: I got thinking as he was sharing that tale. Babe Humphrey: I love cowboy poetry. Male Speaker: Let's -- Babe Humphrey: You know, it's educational stuff. Male Speaker: Well, I don't know if I'd call it educational. Babe Humphrey: What's a good one? Give me one, here. Male Speaker: Well, just give him a sample of it. Male Speaker: You know I haven't thought about it. What's the name of that one you used to do, that real funny one, the thing about that chicken -- that rooster. Male Speaker: Oh! Babe Humphrey: Oh! The rooster! Male Speaker: The fighting roosters. Babe Humphrey: Well I haven't done this in a long time, but I'll -- Male Speaker: No babe, come on now. Male Speaker: This will be fun. Male Speaker: You're a pro at this. For you it's like riding a bike, now. C'mon. Male Speaker: True. Male Speaker: You see him ride his bike lately? He hit the clothes line this morning. [laughter] Teeth went flying out across -- Babe Humphrey: You shut up over there. [laughter] Don't need any of that on here. Okay, we'll try this. Male Speaker: Okay. Male Speaker: Good. Babe Humphrey: Now don't mess me up here. Male Speaker: No. Male Speaker: No, no. Babe Humphrey: I think we're on the same page. The name of this thing is "The Roosters' Revenge."* Male Speaker: That's it! Babe Humphrey: Rooster. Male Speaker: That is the name. Male Speaker: Couldn't remember the name of that thing. Babe Humphrey: All right. Male Speaker: You ready? Babe Humphrey: Now once upon an Easter morn. Little Miss Virginia Meggs, well she found a score A very pretty somewhat gaudy Easter eggs Some was pink, some was yeller, brown others blue One was stripped the color purple, and the rest were died a crimson hue Now in a nest out in the barnyard, where the old rooster stretched his legs Little Miss Virginia had placed these pretty easter eggs Out come the rooster. He was a-crowin' loudly and struttin like a rooster should With joy of his anticipation of his coming fatherhood. [rooster noise] [laughter] I lost my meter. [laughter] Now by the nest he drew up proudly all his handy work to view He knew his mate was a-sittin' there and he knew that hatchin' date was due But sad the moment, and sad the time, sad as terrible surprise Joy fled from his heart in horror at the site before his eyes. For in the nest of his lady, who he swore was always true Were eggs of pink and yellow, brown, green, red, and blue Now with a boldness of an eagle next door to that rooster fly Battle ruffled with his feathers and blood was in that rooster's eye His mind was firm and determined, his jaw was set and grim And the next door neighbor's peacock got the hell beat out of him. [laughter] [music] That's cowboy poetry. Male Speaker: That's cowboy poetry right there. [applause] [music] Babe Humphrey: Well, thank you folks. Thank you so much for your sympathy on that one. We got time to show off our band. Male Speaker: Our band right here. Babe Humphrey: We call him our band. He plays everything with strings on it. Male Speaker: Absolutely. Male Speaker: Except the yo-yo, he can't play one of them. Male Speaker: Yo-yo? Male Speaker: Beat himself half to death the other day with one of them. Walking the dog and it bit him. [laughter] Babe Humphrey: But Danny is quite a talent. He plays everything: The steel guitar, the banjo, the mandolin, the guitar, and he does a great job. Male Speaker: He's got his banjo on there today. Babe Humphrey: He's got a banjo on there? What's a good one? What gets requests from him? Male Speaker: Jump on a banjo song. Let's show him off, here. [music] [applause] Babe Humphrey: Well, I'll tell you what. Male Speaker: Wow. Hot dog. Male Speaker: He wound that up. Babe Humphrey: The room was clear-full of flying notes on that song. Male Speaker: Oh yeah. Male Speaker: Boy, it amazes me that right hand of his when he's doing that. He's just standing, just still as could be and that hand is going 200 mile an hour. [laughs] Babe Humphrey: Donny never says much, folks. He never. Male Speaker: No. Babe Humphrey: He doesn't smile. He doesn't talk. All he does is eat and belch and gripe. [laughter] Male Speaker: He's been with us nine years, I've never even met him. [laughter] He just looks familiar when I come to work. [laughter] Babe Humphrey: You know, folks, the old west out of the west came a lot of great songs. Just a little sprinkling of the tunes here. We're having the privilege of doing today for you. But history tells us that the ranchers and the cowboys were a great part of the beginning of this country and the old folks lived there lives there. My parents, your parents, your grandparents, and a lot of songs are written about the old west. One particular song that we get a lot of requests for features Danny over there. I think we -- have him up there but -- this -- there are a lot of movies made about the old west, as most of you know. And songs were written about some of the movies and for the movies, and one particular movie came out and a TV series, I think, called Rawhide. And they wrote a great western song about that and he does such a great job. You guys wind that thing up will ya? Rawhide. [music] Bar J Wranglers: Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' Rawhide! Rollin', rollin', rollin' Though the streams are swollen Keep them doggies rollin' Rawhide! Through rain and wind and weather Hell-bent for leather Wishin' my gal was by my side. All the things I'm missin', Good vittles, love, and kissin', Are waiting at the end of the ride Move 'em on, move 'em on Head 'em up, head 'em up Move 'em on, head 'em up Rawhide Count 'em out, ride 'em in, Ride 'em in, count 'em out, Count 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide! Rawhide! Keep movin', movin', movin' Though they're disapprovin' Keep them doggies movin' Rawhide! Don't try to understand 'em Just rope and throw and brand 'em Soon we'll be living high and wide. My hearts calculatin' My true love will be waitin', Be waitin' at the end of our ride. Head 'em on, move 'em up Move 'em up, head 'em on Head 'em on, move 'em up Rawhide! Count 'em out, ride 'em in, Ride 'em in, count 'em out, Count 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide! Rawhide! Rawhide! Rawhide. [applause] Male Speaker: There they are. Male Speaker: Thank you, folks. Babe Humphrey: Folks we couldn't very well go too far without bragging a little bit about some of the families in our beautiful state of Wyoming that sacrificed for the cause of freedom just like every other state in our nation, and I might mention that Bryan's son just landed in Iraq not long ago. Joined the Marine Corp, and kind of a family tradition, I reckon. Male Speaker: Dad was in the Marines in Korea if memory serves right. Babe Humphrey: That's correct. And, you know, every night at the ranch we kind of have our veterans stand up and we do recognize them and any people who were part of our armed forces presently and then the past. And out here there's more history than any place in the world. And I think when you see the names like -- on the Vietnam wall. The sacrifices that's made, listen close to the words of this song, and maybe you can get the feel of the patriotism that we so much need in this great country. It's simply entitled "More Than Just a Name on a Wall." [music] Bar J Wranglers: Well I saw her from a distance And she walked up to the wall In her hand she held some flowers As her tears began to fall She took out pen and paper As to trace her memories She looked up to heaven And the words she said were these: She said: Lord my boy was special. And he meant so much to me. Though I'd love to see him, But I know it just can't be. All I have are the memories And the moments to recall So lord could you tell him He's more than a name on a wall. She said he really missed the family Being home on Christmas Day He died for God and country In a land so far away I remember as a little boy Playing war since he was three Lord this time I know He's not coming home to me She said: Lord my boy was special. And he meant so much to me. Though I'd love to see him, But I know it just can't be. So I thank you for the memories And the moments to recall So lord could you tell him He's more than a name on a wall. Lord could you tell him He's more than a name on a wall. [applause] Babe Humphrey: There they are, the Bar J Wranglers. [applause] Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much. [applause] Annie Hatch: Would you like to hear another one? Here they are, the Bar J Wranglers. Male Speaker: Boy, this really makes us feel nice. Thank you so much. Isn't that nice? Babe Humphrey: Thank you so much. Male Speaker: It kind of warms the heart, doesn't it? Babe Humphrey: It certainly does. Male Speaker: Being this far away from home. Babe Humphrey: I'll tell you what, the next time you folks are out and about, we invite you to our wonderful state of Wyoming. Stop by Jackson Hole and let us give you a little western hospitality like we had here. We like it so much. Show this fiddle -- how about "The Orange Blossom Special" that features something on the fiddle. Somebody asked about that song earlier, so here you go. [music] All aboard! [music] Bar J Wranglers: Look yonder comin' Comin' down the railroad track Look yonder comin' Comin' down the railroad track It's the Orange Blossom Special Bringin' my baby back [music] [applause] Babe Humphrey: Thank you so much! Male Speaker: Thank you, folks. God bless you! Thank you! Babe Humphrey: Good afternoon, God Bless folks. God Bless. Thank you. Male Speaker: Thank you for coming out. [applause] Female Speaker: This has been a presentation of the Library of Congress. Visit us at LOC.gov. [end of transcript]