Cooking for the Crew - Song Page
©
from the album Out on the Tallgrass Prairie
Album Note:
In voice of a ranch wife who helps gather cattle, then serves a hearty noon dinner for eight appreciative cowboys, as she enjoys listening to their stories.
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LYRICS
I’m cooking for the crew today, hoping that our group of eight
Will safely gather every steer to finish up this grazing year.
My horse and I will help round up, but while the cowboys load the trucks,
The most important job I’ll do is fix noon dinner for our crew.
My main goal is keep it ready: food still warm - nerves kept steady.
When that final truck pulls out, you’ll hear those cowboy stomachs growl.
If the critters load up easy, then they could show up here soon as ten.
But if those cattle trucks come late, we’ll be in for quite a wait.
Then pretty soon they’re at the door - boots and spurs across the floor.
They each wash up and take a seat and tip a glass of cold iced tea.
We have sloppy joes and tater chips, roastin’ ears - just been picked,
Sliced tomatoes, cowboy beans, homemade apple pie with cream.
They pass the food each one polite, and soon their voices all turn quiet.
The only sound from this big crew is hungry munching while they chew.
Then the story-telling soon begins, “Hey do you remember when . . .”
And “Back when I was just a kid, you can’t imagine what they did…”
The cowboys gleefully portray tales of wild escapades:
Roping, bucking, crazy chases. Funny tales light up their faces.
They skip the stories that are sad: riders hurt and things gone bad.
Memories that still remind: use good care and take your time.
Then finally as they leave our food, each one expresses gratitude.
Their thankfulness and parting smiles make all my efforts feel worthwhile.
Each loads his horse and drives away; we’ve all put in a great big day.
But it’s one job I like to do, and that is: cooking for the crew!