N. Howard Thorp: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Boozer

N. Howard Thorp

“The Boozer” as printed in Songs of the Cowboys (1921).

N. Howard Thorp: Collected Lyrics Text 17 1921 · historical text
Public domainCowboy songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Songs of the Cowboys, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

I’m a howler from the prairies of the West!

If you want to die with terror look at me!

I’m chain-lightning — if I ain’t, may I be blessed!

I’m the snorter of the boundless prairie!

Verse 2

He’s a killer and a hater!

He’s the great annihilator!

He’s a terror of the boundless prairie!

Verse 3

I’m the snoozer from the upper trail!

I’m the reveler in murder and in gore!

I can bust more Pullman coaches on the rail

Than any one who’s worked the job before.

Verse 4

He’s a snorter and a snoozer!

He’s the great trunk line abuser!

He’s the man who puts the sleeper on the rail!

Verse 5

I’m the double-jawed hyena from the East!

I’m the blazing bloody blizzard of the States!

I’m the celebrated slugger; I’m the Beast!

I can snatch a man bald-headed while he waits!

Verse 6

He’s a double-jawed hyena!

He’s the villain of the scena!

He can snatch a man bald-headed while he waits!

Credits

Written by N. Howard Thorp

Words by N. Howard Thorp. Historical text published in Songs of the Cowboys (1921); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Songs of the Cowboys (1921), “The Boozer”

The 1921 published edition (collected by N. Howard Thorp) is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; traditional entries are public domain.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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