This song paints a lovely picture of range-work as a way to highlight the differences between urban and rural lifestyles and values. For example:
Cramer suggests the existence of a rural political consciousness. This consciousness entails “a strong sense of identity as a rural person combined with the sense that rural areas do not get their fair share of power, respect, or resources and that rural folks prefer lifestyles that differ fundamentally from those of city people (p.89).”
Back in the city they have different ways,I’ve spent part of my sabbatical reading more about rural politics. The most interesting piece I’ve come across is the book “The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker” by Katherine Cramer which interrogates the rural-urban divide in Wisconsin.
football and eggnog and Christmas parades.
I'll take the blanket, I'll take the reins,
Christmas for cowboys and wide-open plains.
Cramer suggests the existence of a rural political consciousness. This consciousness entails “a strong sense of identity as a rural person combined with the sense that rural areas do not get their fair share of power, respect, or resources and that rural folks prefer lifestyles that differ fundamentally from those of city people (p.89).”
This approach to rural politics (as well as the role of resentment in political behaviour) may well be useful in understanding the ongoing reaction of many rural residents in Alberta to Bill 6 (which granted paid farmworkers basic employment rights). My plan in the new year is to see the degree to which this theory jives with the comments made by petitioners against Bill 6.
I couldn't find a decent video of the John Denver version of this song (it dates back to about 1975, I think). Jimmy Rankin did a nice version (starts at 2:45) in the clip below.
Tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas Day,
driving the cattle on the snow covered-plains.
All of the good gifts given today,
ours is the sky and the wide open range.
Back in the city they have different ways,
football and eggnog and Christmas parades.
I'll take the blanket, I'll take the reins,
Christmas for cowboys and wide-open plains.
A campfire for warmth as we stop for the night,
the stars overhead are Christmas tree lights.
The wind sings a hymn as we bow down to pray,
Christmas for cowboys and wide-open plains.
Tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day,
driving the cattle on the snow-covered plains.
So many gifts have been opened today,
ours is the sky and the wide open range.
It's Christmas for cowboys and wide open plains.
-- Bob Barnetson
I couldn't find a decent video of the John Denver version of this song (it dates back to about 1975, I think). Jimmy Rankin did a nice version (starts at 2:45) in the clip below.
Tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas Day,
driving the cattle on the snow covered-plains.
All of the good gifts given today,
ours is the sky and the wide open range.
Back in the city they have different ways,
football and eggnog and Christmas parades.
I'll take the blanket, I'll take the reins,
Christmas for cowboys and wide-open plains.
A campfire for warmth as we stop for the night,
the stars overhead are Christmas tree lights.
The wind sings a hymn as we bow down to pray,
Christmas for cowboys and wide-open plains.
Tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day,
driving the cattle on the snow-covered plains.
So many gifts have been opened today,
ours is the sky and the wide open range.
It's Christmas for cowboys and wide open plains.
-- Bob Barnetson
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