Follow de Drinkin' Gou'd Page: 153

                                
Some Characteristics of Cowboy Songs           153
Chorus: Coma ti yi yi
Coma ti yi ya
Coma ti yi yoopee
Ti yi ya!
This final outburst, of course, was discreetly omitted if the
rider was on night herd.
RYE WHISKEY
In conclusion, I offer a version of "Rye Whiskey" learned
last summer on a ranch. Very different versions of this song
are found in the Kentucky mountains and in the wooded areas
of Missouri under the name "Corn Whiskey."5      I learned the
song from a friend who sang it only on rare occasions, and
have not tried to unlearn his peculiarities of rendition. A
better title for "Rye Whiskey," I think, would be "The Roving
Bachelor"; a thirst for liquor is not the only urge present.
thhlsr'The Z ope ofala ose.
To gamblin' I'll go.
Chorus: "Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey," I cry,
"If I don't git rye whiskey, I surely will die."
5The song has been printed in various places under various titles.
Lomax, pages 292-296, gives a version of it (with music) under the title
of "Jack o' Diamonds." Perhaps no other song has been more often
blended with other songs. My own version is evidently blended some-
what with "Old Paint" (Lomax, 329-330).