Johnny Ware was born in slavery
around 1851
To freedom from the cotton fields
he made his final run
The first part of his younger life
is covered in travail
Just a cowpoke on some cattle drive
along the Chisholm Trail
My story starts in Idaho in 1882
When a Highwood River cattleman
came lookin' for a crew,
The day the big herd hit the trail
and dust was in the air,
Among the drovers on the drive
was a cowboy Johnny Ware.
Friendly, courageous,
resourceful, and fair,
These are the pseudonyms
of a cowboy
Johnny Ware.
The mighty herd consisted of three
thousand head or more
Bound for old Alberta
to the Highwood River shore
While the big bar you was waiting
for the cattle to arrive
The boss Tom Lynch
had troubles keeping rust
lers from the drive
The day they finally did arrive
the stories that were told
They said the deeds of Johnny Ware
were something to behold
He rode the meanest outlaw horse
and made him quite the pet
Then he brought the cattle rustlers
in with just his lariat
Friendly, courageous,
resourceful and fair
These are the pseudonyms
of a cowboy
Johnny Ware
Now Johnny said he'd like to stay
to work the big bar you
And pretty soon there was no job
that Johnny couldn't do
He could outrun any three -year -old
and bulldog any steer
He could ride a bronco through a row
or stand him on his ear
He always took the hardest jobs
and made them look like fun
He'd share his food and blankets
and his smile with anyone
The old Fort McLeod Gazette
said nothing could compare
With the greatest cowboy all around,
the cowboy Johnny Ware
Friendly, courageous,
resourceful and fair
These are the pseudonyms
of a cowboy
Johnny Ware
He worked upon the Quarren Ranch,
they said he was the best
His name was now a byword
in the old Canadian West
But Johnny said, I've got to go
to the town of Calgary
For I've got a little negro gal
and I hope she'll marry me
On a little ranch near Millerville
the couple settled down
They soon became a family with
neighbors all around
Honored and respected
by the old folks and the young
If only history could record
the praises that were sung
Friendly, courageous,
resourceful and fair,
These are the pseudonyms
of a cowboy Johnny Ware.
By the year 1905
Alberta signed her name,
A province now of Canada
so proudly she became,
But while her jubilation
was upon the whole frontier,
Alberta lost her number
one cowboy pioneer.
His smile and example
are the spirit of the plains,
Never to be forgotten
by the men who ride the reins.
Some are born with character
and some have skill to spare,
But the greatest cowboy of them all
was a cowboy, Johnny Ware.
Friendly, courageous,
resourceful, and fair,
These are the pseudonyms
of a cowboy johnny -wear.