Life, 1923-01-18 · page 5 of 36
Life — January 18, 1923 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous poem by S.K. that parodies traditional cowboy ballads by transplanting them into the modern era (the 1920s-30s, based on Life magazine's publication period). The central joke: instead of classic Western hardships, the narrator complains about mundane modern problems—a broken gas tank, inability to start a Ford automobile, and lack of a radio. References to "San Antone" and traditional cowboy language ("a-ridin'," "pinto Liz," "roan") contrast absurdly with mechanical complaints. The cartoon illustration shows an exaggerated cowboy figure with a coiled rope, emphasizing the anachronism. The satire gently mocks how modern conveniences (cars, radios) have invaded and altered even romanticized frontier mythology, making "cowboys" face contemporary frustrations rather than authentic Western challenges.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Cowboy Song, New Style LES I was a-ridin’ to San Antone (Roll along, Lizzie, roll along) Thar went my gas tank drier ‘n a bone (An' I ain’t in a hurry nohow). Nothin’ but cactus, nothin’ but dirt, And you cain’t start a Ford with spur ner quirt. Plumb out o” gas, I'd been thar yet, Ef I hadn't brought along my radio set. Listen, you cowboys, listen to my song— Allus take your radio set along. Told my troubles to the desert air, And along come a waddy that had gas to spare. He on his pinto Liz, me on my roan (Roll along, Lizzie, roll along) ‘Went down lopin’ into San Antone (An’ I ain’t in a hurry nohow). comicbooks.com