Ragtime Cowboy Joe

"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is a song originally performed by Bob Roberts that is covered by The Chipmunks in The Alvin Show episode Good Manners, first released as a single in 1959. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959 and remained on the chart for nine weeks, peaking at #16. The song is also included in the albums Let's All Sing with The Chipmunks, The Very Best of The Chipmunks, Chipmunk Mania, The Chipmunks 20 All Time Golden Greats, The Chipmunks: Greatest Hits, The Chipmunks Sing Alongs, and Greatest Hits: Still Squeaky After All These Years (2007).

Single Version

1959 Version

Sing-Alongs Version

(gunshot sound)

The Chipmunks:
Oh, how he sings
Raggy music to his cattle
As he swings back and forth
In his saddle on a horse (what a horse)
That is, syncopated-gated

What a funny meter to the roar of his repeater
How they run when they hear
The feller's gun because the western folks all know
He's a high falutin', rootin-tootin', son-of-a-gun
From Arizona, he's some cowboy
Talk about your cowboy
Ragtime cowboy Joe

(instrumental break with some gunshots)

Alvin:
Look out, Sheriff! They're gettin' away!
(fires gun)

Dave:
Alvin, stop shooting that gun!

Alvin:
Reach for the sky, you sidewinder!
(fires gun)

Dave:
Alvin, will you put that gun down?

Alvin:
Don't worry lady! I'll go get 'em!
(much louder gunshot)

Dave:
ALVIN!!! Will you please put that thing down and get back here and sing!?

The Chipmunks:
Oh, how he sings
Raggy music to his cattle
As he swings back and forth
In his saddle on a horse (what a horse)
That is, syncopated-gated

What a funny meter to the roar of his repeater
How they run when they hear
The feller's gun because the western folks all know
He's a high falutin', rootin-tootin', son-of-a-gun
From Arizona, he's some cowboy
Talk about your cowboy
Ragtime cowboy Joe
(gunshots)

Alvin:
High-ho, Alvin!

Sing-Along Album Version

1959 Version

Sing-Alongs Version

Alvin:
Now listen up, partners
The Chipmunk gang has a score to settle
With a low down, high falutin', camera hoggin'
Scene stealing horse, and we mean business
Funny business, that is
So gather 'round and sing out!

The Chipmunks:
Oh, how he sings
Raggy music to his cattle
As he swings back and forth
In his saddle on a horse (what a horse)
That is, syncopated-gated

What a funny meter to the roar of his repeater
How they run when they hear
The feller's gun because the western folks all know
He's a high falutin', rootin-tootin', son-of-a-gun
From Arizona, he's some cowboy
Talk about your cowboy
Ragtime cowboy Joe

Alvin:
If that horse throws us one more time
I'm gonna send him to the glue factory
Ouch! Stop it! You miserable-
Hey, hop-along, do you know how they make glue?

Theodore:
Alvin, that's not nice!

Alvin:
Well, neither is this horse!
Listen, buster
You're messing with wild Alvin Seville
Don't say you weren't warned

The Chipmunks:
Oh, how he sings
Raggy music to his cattle
As he swings back and forth
In his saddle on a horse (what a horse)
That is, syncopated-gated

What a funny meter to the roar of his repeater
How they run when they hear
The feller's gun because the western folks all know
He's a high falutin', rootin-tootin', son-of-a-gun
From Arizona, he's some cowboy
Talk about your cowboy
Ragtime cowboy Joe

Alvin:
High-ho, Alvin!

Trivia

• In The Alvin Show segment, the director of the Chipmunks' musical short is based on Alfred Hitchcock.
• On the 1993 Chipmunks Sing-Along video and album, the gunshots at the end are replaced by slide whistle sounds.