Don’t Fence Me In 1934
Written by Cole Porter (1891-1964) and Bob Fletcher (1885-1972)
About the song and it’s authors
Written originally for the un-produced movie Adios Argentina. Written by Cole Porter and taken from a poem by Montana highway engineer/poet named Robert Fletcher.
Here is the original poem ‘Open Range’ by Robert Fletcher that I found on a cowboy poetry site! Homage time Open
Last stanza
“… Just give me country big and wide
With benchland, hills and breaks,
With coulees, cactus, buttes and range,
With creeks, and mountain lakes,
Until I cross the Great Divide,
Then, God, forgive each sin
And turn me loose on my cayuse
But please don't fence me in.”
by Robert H. Fletcher, from Corral Dust, 1936 edition
Roy Rogers footage in the movie ‘Hollywood Canteen’.
Bing Crosby footage with the Andrew Sisters, live 1943
Performed and broadcast on the radio by Kate Smith and recorded by Bing Crosby with the Andrews sisters in 1944. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong with Velma Middleton also performed this song.
Ella’s recorded version, audio only on youtube
David Byrnes music video version
Informational youtube audio with pictures about Bing and the Andrews Sisters
Written by Cole Porter (1891-1964) and Bob Fletcher (1885-1972)
About the song and it’s authors
Written originally for the un-produced movie Adios Argentina. Written by Cole Porter and taken from a poem by Montana highway engineer/poet named Robert Fletcher.
Here is the original poem ‘Open Range’ by Robert Fletcher that I found on a cowboy poetry site! Homage time Open
Last stanza
“… Just give me country big and wide
With benchland, hills and breaks,
With coulees, cactus, buttes and range,
With creeks, and mountain lakes,
Until I cross the Great Divide,
Then, God, forgive each sin
And turn me loose on my cayuse
But please don't fence me in.”
by Robert H. Fletcher, from Corral Dust, 1936 edition
Roy Rogers footage in the movie ‘Hollywood Canteen’.
Bing Crosby footage with the Andrew Sisters, live 1943
Performed and broadcast on the radio by Kate Smith and recorded by Bing Crosby with the Andrews sisters in 1944. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong with Velma Middleton also performed this song.
Ella’s recorded version, audio only on youtube
David Byrnes music video version
Informational youtube audio with pictures about Bing and the Andrews Sisters
Lyrics
Don’t Fence Me In
Bob Fletcher (1934)
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies.
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hovels and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.
Ba boo ba ba boo.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.
No.
Poppa, don't you fence me in
Bob Fletcher (1934)
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees,
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies.
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hovels and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in
Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle
Underneath the western skies
On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise.
Ba boo ba ba boo.
I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.
No.
Poppa, don't you fence me in