Growing up out in the country,
Well as I've been told,
Has it's advantages.
Now what they are,
I rightly don't know.
Fer ya see,
When they talk 'bout runnin' water,
That meant ya run out to the well
Ta fetch it, specially if
It's rainin' or it's cold.
When they talk 'bout indoor plumbin',
Well, I don't want ya to turn red--
But it wurn't nothin' more than a pan
That wuz kept under the bed.
When they talk 'bout "Saturday night entertainment",
Well, a cowboy could have lots of fun
By goin' out to the barn and shootin' rats
Up in the rafters where they run.
Now just the other day my youngest son
Asked what kind of programs I watched--
When I wuz young--on TV.
Well, I shuffled my feet and scratched my head
And with a little chuckle I said:
"Son, we didn't watch any TV
Fer we didn't have no 'lectricity."
It was the night before Christmas all through the ranch,
Not a critter was stirring, not by any chance.
We just got back from a big country dance.
Figgered I'd make a round and give one last glance.
All the longjohns were hung out on the line,
And I could tell everything was gunna be just fine.
For you see, the night was clear as a bell
And all the stars were shinin' bright,
As far as I could tell,
It made a mighty purty sight.
I went out to the pens
To see how "El Chiquito" was doin'.
As I sent around the stalls,
I heard such a ruckus,
The sight I seen just beat all,
For you see there was ol' Saint Nickalus
Standin' next to a covered wagon
Pulled by twelve horses.
And I ain't just a braggin'.
He had chaps and he had spurs.
He had saddles and he had tack for the herd.
When he saw me he brought his finger to his lips
and said, "Shhh! Narry a word."
He jumped in his wagon and in the night he did fly,
Saying "Yipi yo! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Y'all have a Merry Christmas, ya hear!"