Cisco Houston Web Site

The Songs He Sang

Stewball: Lyrics

As performed by Cisco Houston (With Woody Guthrie and Sonny Terry)

Traditional

Appears on:
Way out in California
Where Stewball was born
All the jockeys in the country
Said he blew there in a storm

You bet on Stewball you might win, win, win
Bet on Stewball you might win

It was a big day in Dallas
Don't you wish you was there
You would'a bet your last dollar
On that iron gray mare

You bet on Stewball you might win, win, win
Bet on Stewball you might win

When the horses were saddled
And the word was given "go", given "go"
All the horses, they shot out
Like an arrow from a bow

You bet on Stewball you might win, win, win
Bet on Stewball you might win

When that big bell was a-ringing
And the horses was run
And that big bell was a-singing
And the horses did run

You bet on Stewball you might win, win, win
Bet on Stewball you might win

The old folks they hollered
The young folks did bawl
The children said look, look
At that noble Stewball

You bet on Stewball you might win, win, win
Bet on Stewball you might win
You bet on Stewball you might win, win, win
Bet on Stewball you might win

Of note:

A remarkbale performance, with Leadbelly's guitar wonderfully simulating the sound of a horse galloping. It's a shame the recording quality and transfer is so poor; I have much better stuff from 20 years before this. See the very differnt version Cisco choose when he was lead Here.

We welcome any suggestions, contributions, or questions. You send it, we'll consider using it. Help us spread the word. And the music. And thanks for visiting.