Anyone know of a good resource for information on the songs folks actually sang on the trail and around the campfires iin the 1870s and 80s? I know today's country-western music has virtually nothing to do with that era. But one of my favorite artists is Buck Ramsey and I like to think some of his material is at least somewhat period correct.
I found this one. Seems like there is a lot of info there.
http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/music-1.html
In case no one here has a quick answer - type in your query - and variations thereof - in your Search Engine.
You might try looking under Michael martin Murphy's 'Cowboy Songs' to see what else surfaces.
Many of the songs are just adaptations of English Folk Songs.
Most of the 'Cowboy' songs are from the era of the 'Singing Cowboy' and a quick check on a song title will also give a copyright date.
The real trick is the actual musical score, since the lyrics could be used with more than one.
Good Luck.
Scouts Out!
Nathan Howard "Jack" Thrope wrote down a lot of the lyrics he could find around the turn of the century. It is also said that he didn't write down all the songs and lyrics he found. The reason, many were a bit off color. Young men were no different then than today.
Glad you liked it RCJ. I thought there was quite a bit of interesting info there.