"Sweet Baby James" lyrics

There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
He works in the saddle, and he sleeps in the canyon
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change

And as the moon rises, he sits by his fire
Thinkin' about women and glasses of beer
Closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft, but it's clear
As if maybe someone could hear

Goodnight, you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye, sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams?
And rock-a-bye, sweet baby James

Now, the first of December was covered with snow
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Though the Berkshires seemed dreamlike
On account of that frostin' with ten miles behind me
And ten thousand more to go

There's a song they sing when they take to the highway
A song they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing seems to work fine for me

Then goodnight, you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye, sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams?
Oh rock-a-bye, sweet baby James

Rock-a-bye, sweet baby James
Rock-a-bye, sweet baby James