About John Reedy
Lyrics and Poetry
Book and CD
Contacting John Reedy...

 

  About John Reedy

John has worked as a cowboy, sheepman, opera singer, radio DJ, photographer, music writer, hotel clerk, actor, food delivery driver, construction worker, office temp, newspaper boy, house painter and music producer (and that is just the highlight reel). Eclectic Renaissance Man? Incurable Romantic? Unfocused Malcontent? The jury is still out...

His music, poetry and photography offer a glimpse into the mind of a romantic wrestling with reality, a dreamer refusing to accept convention, while still trying to just get along.

He currently lives on a ranch near Helena, Montana with his wife, two kids, two dogs, four horses, two trucks and too many guitars.

                                            

Lyrics and Poetry

Buckaroo Girl

Aspen & Alpenglow

Beautiful Cubicle

 

Buckaroo Girl

There ain’t nothin’ better in this western world 

Than a long-haired, tight-jeaned buckaroo girl

With a smile on her face and spurs on her buckaroo boots

You won’t catch her wearing one of them Toby hats

She’s not crazy ‘bout the Chinese Ariats

Her boots and hats are artistic working tools
 

‘Cus leather is her stock and trade

She likes it in her saddle and she likes it to braid

And she loves spinin’ a big ol’ rawhide loop

She likes lyin’ in the tall, tall grass

Ruminating on a buckaroo task

And yodeling a little lady yodel, too
 

Her brim is flat, her shirt has snaps

That wildrag ‘bout give you a heart attack

When it’s loosened up at the end of a long, long day 

Dabbin’ one on a renegade heifer

Gives her some kind of buckaroo pleasure

That makes it worthwhile when she draws her little pay
 

It’s about bits and bridles, chinks and chaps

Flower-carved saddles with bull-nose taps

Reins, chains and a braided leather bosal

Flatbed pickups and border collie dogs

Western swing music and Tom Russell songs

Brandin’ in the spring and gatherin’ in the fall
 

And dancin’ at the dance puts her in state

As the cowboys watch, understanding their fate

That their ropes are going to be just a little too short

Hard and fast just ain’t her style

If you like what you’re  doin’, why don’t you take your time

She’s talking about craft and art, not a sport
 

So head out to Elko or Jordan or Idaho

And get yourself a slick fork and some latigo

And learn how to ride in the wide sagebrush sea

Then work an outfit, ten sections will do

And you can start workin’ at being a buckaroo, too

‘Cause that’s where this Buckaroo Girl goes to be seen
 

Shake out a loop ‘bout 22 feet

That’s what it’ll take for you to compete

And give it your finest double hoolihan swing

Then close your eyes and hope to hell

That she likes your type of buckaroo fella

And if she don’t...

Well, like me, I guess you can learn how to sing

© 2007, John Michael Reedy, Twisted Cowboy Music (ASCAP), All rights reserved.
From Twisted Vignettes
These lyrics may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.
 

 

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Aspen & Alpenglow

Rilla was the daughter of a rancher

Will made her a rancher’s wife

She pulled calves and broke horses

Painted columbine, blue and white
 

Her life on the ranch was unsparing

The winters they were cold and long

But ice on the river was bearing

And she knew it wouldn’t be long
 

She’d cross the winding Elk River

And ride into the Big Meadow 

Watch the calves settle in the tall grass

Up in the aspen and the alpenglow
 

She remembers all of the horses

That carried her through the pines

All along the South Fork trail

And up to the Great Divide
 

But today she’ll stay in the pickup

Her knees can’t handle the strain

Of ten hours a-horseback 

Across this mountain terrain
 

She says, “Keep ‘em out of the willows boys

Someone keep an eye on Will

Take a picture of the grass when you get there

Up in the aspen and the alpenglow”
 

Now the cattle are settling in the tall grass

And the sun fades in the sky

Will shoots a picture from the saddle

As Rilla hums Bye and Bye
 

Now she can rest

Soon she’ll be turned to the land

No jewelry on her neck or her fingers

Will places the picture in her hand
 

He says, “Soon you’ll cross the winding river

And ride into the Big Meadow 

Watch the calves settle in the tall grass

Up in the aspen and the alpenglow”

© 2007, John Michael Reedy, Twisted Cowboy Music (ASCAP), All rights reserved.
From Twisted Vignettes
These lyrics may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.


 

---

 

Beautiful Cubicle

She's asleep

in her beautiful cubicle

dreaming

over documents

dry as the dusty ranch road

her mind travels down.

Her dog

ecstatic

on the flatbed,

a burst of alfalfa smelling salts

through her side window,

the singular shadow of Ted

grazing

and swatting flies

with his flaxen tail

on a summer evening

in Montana.

Twisted horsehair rope

in her hands,

blue jeans

tucked

into her boot-tops,

grass belly-deep 

in the pasture

as he raises

his head.

She rides bareback

as the summer sun

sets

slowly

through the dry haze

of dirt road dust

in the valley.
 

© 2007, John Michael Reedy

From Twisted Vignettes: Poems and Photographs. All rights reserved.

These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

 

 

Book and Recording:  

Twisted Vignettes CD

Includes:

I'm Looking Out for You by John Reedy
Buckaroo Girl by John Reedy
I Can't Hold Myself in Line by Merle Haggard
Soul of the Montana Girl by John Reedy
Midnight and Lonesome by Julie Miller
All This Way for the Short Ride by Tom Russell and Paul Zarzyski
Aspen & Alpenglow by John Reedy
That Buckin' Song by Robert Earl Keen
She Loves to Ride Horses by Guy Clark and Keith Sykes
Sunday Morning Blues by John Reedy
Combover Blues by Todd Snider
Environmental Muscle Truck by John Reedy

John Reedy-vocals, acoustic guitar
Larry Park - lead guitars
Jerry Marn - bass

with Don Gliko - dobro, harmonica
and Heather Reedy - harmony vocals

$13.00 postpaid from www.TwistedCowboy.com

---

Also available:

Limited Edition Set
CD and companion book of original poems & photographs

$25.00 postpaid from www.TwistedCowboy.com

 

 

Twisted Vignettes: Poems and Photographs BOOK

Poems:

Beautiful Cubicle
Fire Season
Shearing School
[Untitled]
The Calving Barn
Jim Ball Basin
Dog Years
Conversation with the Devil
Where'd Bob Go?
A Few Bad Apples (Or, Then Go Get a Job in Town)
Orval Bedell
[Untitled]
[Untitled]
Sowing
The Writing Desk
Rain!
[Untitled]
Cult of the Brand
John L.
The Secret

$15.00 postpaid from www.TwistedCowboy.com

---

Also available:

Limited Edition Set
CD and companion book of original poems & photographs

$25.00 postpaid from www.TwistedCowboy.com

 

Contacting John Reedy

 

Visit John Reedy's web site: www.TwistedCowboy.com

 

 

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