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Independence
Ask most any cowboy why he lives the way he does,
And he'll most likely tell you it's mostly because
He cherishes the freedom that lets him spend his day
Out on the range with the cows living life the cowboy way.
But don't let him deceive you, his freedom's under assault
Not from drought or disease, in fact, it is his own fault.
He's given up his freedom, just like you and me
To an alluring mistress that is called technology.
Time was when a cowboy 's day was spent in solitude
Not a soul anywhere around, in fact it was considered rude
To disturb a working cowboy, as he did his daily chores
Far away from interruptions like phones or slamming doors.
But behold a modern cowboy, and you will likely find,
On his belt or in his pocket a most malicious kind
Of device that's from the devil, designed to take freedom away
And put cowboys in bondage in a subtle, cunning way.
It is that ubiquitous cell phone, and a sight I truly fear,
Is a cowboy checking cattle with a cell phone to his ear.
"Home on the Range" may be his ring tone, and he may make the claim
"That it doesn't make no difference," but it just isn't the same.
'Cause his independence disappears when he's just a ring away
>From the boss, his children, or his wife, who'll call him up to say
They are wonderin' what he's doin', or where he is right now
When his focus should be on fixing fence and checking on the cows.
Then that phone becomes his focal point, is he in or out of range,
Has someone left a message, is it time to change
Or charge up the nicad battery, the slavery grows and grows
And a cowboy's freedom slips away and before he even knows
It, he's as bad as city dwellers, the phone calls never end.
He becomes a one armed cowboy, his arm has a permanent bend
>From holding the phone up to his ear, and now his freedom's lost
So, boys before you turn your cell phone on, stop and count the cost.
And now, I'm just suggesting that on Independence Day,
You start your day off different, put that devil phone away.
Turn it off and just forget it, then go out and check the herd
Without any distractions, no phone calls or pointless words.
Then come home, spend time with family, your children and your wife
Recover the freedom that you lost, reclaim your cowboy's life.
Leave that cell phone in the drawer for one day, or twenty two
It's not too late to regain your freedom, it's the cowboy thing to do.
Steve Lucas
distribute freely, but give me credit
