About the song
There’s a certain magic in the music of Chris LeDoux, a raw, unfiltered spirit that speaks to the soul of the American West. For those who’ve spent their lives on the land, or even just dreamed of open pastures and sun faded saddles, songs like “Horses And Cattle” feel less like entertainment and more like memory. Released as part of LeDoux’s wide-ranging catalog of cowboy anthems, this track isn’t just a melody, it’s a portrait of a vanishing way of life.
“Horses And Cattle” is not a radio friendly pop tune chasing trends; it’s a heartfelt reflection from a man who lived the life he sang about. Chris LeDoux, a former world champion rodeo cowboy, didn’t just sing about cowboys, he was one. And that authenticity shines through in every note of this song. With a voice that carries dust and wisdom, and a guitar that rings like the wind through canyon walls, LeDoux brings his listeners into a world that’s rugged, honest, and fading fast.
The song’s themes are timeless: the deep bond between a rancher and his livestock, the solitude of the open range, and the quiet pride that comes with a life lived in rhythm with nature. You can almost see the slow sway of a horse’s gait, hear the soft lowing of distant cattle, and feel the rough leather reins in your hands. It’s a song built not just on instruments, but on imagery – simple, strong, and sincere.
For longtime country fans or newcomers curious about the roots of Western music, “Horses And Cattle” is a perfect entry point. It’s not flashy. It’s not polished. But like a weathered saddle or a trusted pair of boots, it’s real. And in a world that’s changing faster than ever, that kind of truth is rare and worth hanging on to.
Video
Lyrics
My home’s in Montana, I wear a bandanaMy spurs are silver, my horse is a bayAnd I’ve been a-roamin’ all over Wyomin’There’s plenty of work, but there ain’t too much payMe and a few boys we signed on at DuboisTo feed through the winter and camp out awhileCome a hard hittin’ norther from the Montana borderWe tallied the frozen ones mile after mileWell they give you your three square and a bunk to sleep thereAnd just enough wages to keep you aroundBut with no place to spend it and nowhere to send itYou can stay out of debt if you stay out of townIt’s horses and cattle and a double rig saddleWith a stout line, a catch twine, and a good ropin’ armWherever there’s ranches, I’ve been takin’ my chancesFrom sunrise to sunset since the day I was bornWe struck out for Laramie early one SaturdaySpring was a breakin’, the grass turnin’ greenWell, I took a hand in some fast movin’ brandin’When they offered top wages at the Bar SeventeenWe followed a rodeo clear up to CodeoTryin’ to ride me a bronco or twoWell, I busted some horses for two or three bossesAnd lost all the wages that ever I drewWell it’s hell and high water for the Idaho borderWhere I’ve got a gal if that letter don’t lieIf she gives me a reason to stay through the seasonI’ll take her to Elko when the snow starts to flyIt’s horses and cattle and a double rig saddleWith a stout line, a catch twine, and a good ropin’ armWherever there’s ranches, I’ve been takin’ my chancesFrom sunrise to sunset since the day I was born