ROGER

If you ask a cowboy 'bout most anything a'tall
An answer has been a brewin' since last fall
Thinkin' while he's ridin' or quenchin' a powerful thirst
He weren't goin' to offer nothin' unless he's asked first

It's the same but only different when it comes to braggin'
'Bout the colt or the calf or the rope he's been draggin'
He'd much rather just do the job and leave the talkin' to others
An understanding 'tween them all like they all is brothers

Neighbors all know who's best at what … or sometimes not
Who can rope, who can ride and what type a horse a mans got
There's but one other important fact that folks just tuck away
And that's how handy a man's dog can be … for a rainy day

When the countryside is big and neighbors live a far
Stories travel fast and they tend to grow, 'specially at the bar
But there weren't no need to make this one grow any a'tall
He's was good as they get, if you want it done just give him a call

Ron was a good neighbor always willing to lend a hand
He'd had Roger, the wonderdog, the best in all the land
They covered many a mile together, often with Roger atop a bale
Runnin' circles in the back of Ron's 'ol flatbed just a waggin' his tail

When the saddle came out Roger knew his time was near
He'd get to move the cows, cut a calf or lock on a steer
He'd wait impatiently as the latigos were made tight
Always pacing underfoot, and never out of sight

Answering a neighbor's call is just what gets done
Work was started this day far ahead of the sun
Ron, with Roger out front, set out and had many a mile to go
To meet the neighbor, up on the bluff, tryin' to beat the snow

They was ridin' all mornin' just to get to the meetin' spot
No surprise that Roger got there first, and he was at the trot
With a hearty handshake the two designed the plan of attack
They'd send 'ol Roger around and they'd just hang back

The neighbor headed his way and Ron headed his
'ol Roger was the best, it's just a fact that is
Ron eased his way through the rocks and shale
The storm was a gatherin' and the wind a gale

High atop that mountain 'ol Roger was doin' his thing
He'd crept through the timber, workin' the calf on a string
Ron shifted in the saddle and watched Roger work with pride
His best friend doin' what he loved, couldn't have been happier if he tried

Now Roger was a master that day like all the rest
But Ron's cowboyin', well, let's just say it were a test
He'd have to be the one doin' the tellin'
But from where I was, I sure heard a lot of yellin'

The closest a man gets to pickin' his kin
Is his dog, a closer bond there's never been
Ron and Roger, no doubt a pair for all the ages
A relationship that has gone through all the stages

It's been several years now that he's been gone
Ron's saddest day when Roger passed on
From the shadow of his hat silent tears made their way
He'd always miss 'ol Roger startin' this day