X:1 T:O Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie M:4/4 L:1/8 Q:1/4=120 K:G z2A,2DDF2|: A8|-A2BAF2D2|F8| w:Oh bur-y me|not|-on the lone prai-rie| w:****|lips|* of a youth who|lay| z2A,A,D2F2|E8|-E2FED2B,2|D8|[1 z2A,A,D2F2 :|[2 z4|| w:These * words came|slow|* and - mourn-ful|ly| From the pal-lid| w:On his dy-ing |bed|* at the close of|day|| I had a tough time with the ABC. It sounds OK at Concertina.net, but I had to use rests in order to not carry ties into the endings. I don't know if that is common in all ABC software. Here are more words from Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads collected by John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax, The MacMillan Co., 1948: quoting on p. 49: The varying "choruses," or refrains, sung to the same melody, are printed to illustrate the results of different composers of the song, not with pen and paper at hand, but evolved, perhaps, as a cowboy rode alone over the prairie. We may read them now as another example of the survival of the fittest. "Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie," These words came low and mournfully From the pallid lips of a youth who lay On his dying bed at the close of day. He had wailed in pain till o'er his brow Death's shadows fast were gathering now; He thought of his home and his loved ones nigh As the cowboys gathered to see him die.
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie Where the wild coyotes will howl o'er me, In a narrow grave just six by three. Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie.""In fancy I listen to the well known words Of the free, wild winds and the song of the birds; I think of home and the cottage in the bower And the scenes I loved in my childhood's hour. "It matters not, I've oft been told, Where the body lies when the heart grows cold; Yet grant, oh, grant this wish to me: Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie.
"Oh, then bury me not on the lone prairie," In a narrow grave six foot by three, Where the buffalo paws o'er a prairie sea, Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie.I've always wished to be laid when I died In the little churchyard on the green hillside; By my father's grave there let mine be, And bury me not on the lone prairie. "Let my death slumber be where my mother's prayer And a sister's tear will mingle there, Where my frieneds can come and weep o'er me; Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie.
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie In a narrow grave just six by three, Where the buzzard waits and the wind blows free, Then bury me not on the lone prairie."There is another whose tears may be shed For one who lies on a prairie bed; It pained me then and it pains me now -- She has curled these locks, she has kissed this brow. "These locks she has curled, shall the rattlesnake kiss: This brow she has kissed, shall the cold grave press: For the sake of the loved ones that will weep for me, Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie.
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie Where the wild coyotes will howl o'er me, Where the buzzards sail and the wind goes free, Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie."Oh, bury me not--" And his voice failed there, But we took no heed of his dying prayer; In a narrow grave just six by three We buried him there on the lone prairie. Where the dewdrops glow and the butterflies rest, And the flowers bloom o'er the prairie's crest; Where the wild coyote and winds sport free On a wet saddle blanket lay a cowboy-ee.
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie Where the wild coyotes will howl o'er me, Where the rattlesnakes hiss and the crow flies free, Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie."Oh, we buried him there on the lone prairie Where the wild rose blooms and the wind blows free; Oh, his pale young face nevermore to see -- For we buried him there on the lone prairie. Yes, we buried him there on the lone prairie, Where the owl all night hoots mournfully, And the blizzard beats and the winds blow free O'er his lowly grave on the lone prairie. And the cowboys now as they roam the plain -- For they marked the spot where his bones were lain -- Fling a handful of roses o'er his grave, With a prayer to Him who his soul will save.
"Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie Where the wolves can howl and growl o'er me; Fling a han dful of roses o'er my grave With a prayer to Him who my soul will save."