OH, THEY'RE TOUGH, MIGHTY TOUGH IN THE WEST
(Clive Erard / Frank Trafford)

George Elrick - 1937
Nat Gonella & His Georgians - 1937
Ambrose & His Orch. - 1937


Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the west
And they've lots of curly hair upon their chest
You can never be a lily
If you want to be hillbilly
'Cos they're tough mighty tough in the West

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And your trigger must be quicker than the rest
In Chicago there are tough guys
But the really treat-em-rough guys
Where are they (you tell us son) in the West

(Singing Oh Susannah, won't you marry me
And we'll all live as long as the old oak tree)

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And they never change their socks or change their vest
Soap and water's just a laugh
For they never take a bath
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And a stranger there can never stand the test
They'd a Russian guy called Bostik
But he scrammed to Vladivostik
And they're tough, mighty tough in the West

(Singing Oh Susannah, won't you marry me
And we'll all live as long as the old oak tree)

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And the sheriff goes to jail to take a rest
Those guys never wear galoshes
And they try on bolts and washers
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And they measure sixty-four around the chest
Every hair upon their torso
Is like a steel string, only more so
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West

(Singing Oh Susannah, won't you marry me
And we'll all live as long as the old oak tree)

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And their beards are thicker than an eagles nest
Dentists there have caveman manners
As they pull out teeth with spanners
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
You can never let your trigger finger rest
And if times are going hard
You just double cross your pard
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West

(Singing Oh Susannah, won't you marry me
And we'll all live as long as the old oak tree)

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And another thing those hombres can digest
Prussic acid in the licquor
But them guys are never sicker
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West

Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And the one who lives the longest shoots the best
If you dare go to bed
When you wake up you'll be dead
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West


(Transcribed by Bill Huntley - December 2004)


*****


Verse as sung by the animated character,
Hank The Cowboy in the "Hank Rides Again"
stories featured in the BBC Children's TV
Show "Whirligig" (1950):

Howdy Folks!
Oh, they're tough, mighty tough in the West
And your trigger must be quicker than the rest
When there's rootin' and a-tootin'
I'm the guy that does the shootin'
'Cos they're tough, mighty tough in the West