In the song “Night Rider’s Lament,” a cowboy reads a letter from home asking:
“Why do you ride for your money? / Tell me: Why do you rope for short pay? / You ain’t a’gettin’ nowhere / And you’re losin’ your share / Boy, you must have gone crazy out there.”
Perhaps some Colorado Cowboy Gathering attendees ask themselves the same thing every year, when the performers get on stage to sing songs and recite poems about long cattle drives, lonely nights in the wilderness, dangerous outlaws and other challenges one might face on the Western Frontier.
As those performers and organizers will explain, the cowboy lifestyle is certainly hard, but it’s also very rewarding.
“I’m grateful and blessed to remain in this lifestyle,” emcee Dennis Russell said.
Over the Jan. 17-19 weekend, the Colorado Cowboy Gathering returned to Golden for its annual shows at the Buffalo Rose. This year’s show featured 10 musical and poetry acts from four states.
The Jan. 17 “Kickin’ It Off” show was practically sold out with more than 200 attendees packed onto the main floor and spread around the balcony to enjoy a mix of original and classic cowboy poems and songs.
Russell was thankful for “so much participation,” as well as the quality of performers who traveled to Golden for the occasion.
The Colorado Cowboy Gathering started 36 years ago at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and typically coincides with the National Western Stock Show.
Around 2011, CCG moved to the American Mountaineering Center in downtown Golden, Russell and fellow board member Susie Knight explained. The 2021 show was canceled because of COVID-19 but returned in January 2022. However, the organizers decided to forgo the 2023 show, but returned in 2024 at a new Golden venue.
“It worked out for our crowd,” Knight said. “The Buffalo Rose was calling our name. … (Golden’s) Western connection just calls to cowboy culture.”
Should have been a cowboy
While there aren’t many in Golden anymore, Knight defined a cowboy as someone who knows how to ranch, handle cattle and ride horses. Being handy with a rope is good too, she added.
Knight, who lives in Conifer, rides horses and guides trail rides, among similar work.
Russell, who also ranches in Colorado, said working with livestock was a key trait of cowboys. But, he added that one’s relationship to the land is also crucial. Cowboys typically live “out at the end of the pavement” and have an intrinsic feeling for their surroundings, he described.
“You put the land and animals before yourself,” Russell continued. “ … You’re close to nature and close to God.”
Another aspect is following what Russell called “the cowboy code,” explaining: “When you give your word, you keep it.”
While this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, Russell and Knight said everyone can enjoy cowboy songs and poems. Knight described how the cowboy lifestyle is “romantic, attractive and wholesome” — traits that also pervade the songs and poems about it.
New Mexico musicians and twins Kacey and Jenna Thunborg, 19, shared their original songs Jan. 17 during their first trip to the Colorado Cowboy Gathering. The Thunborgs grew up on a ranch and embraced their passion for music at a young age, learning to play the guitar, sing and write songs.
Like Knight and Russell, the Thunborgs said cowboy music and poetry often describes a love for the land; an appreciation for animals and people; and a respect for history and storytelling of the Old West.
Kacey described how she loves this style of music — calling it an “underground genre” — partly because of how different and soulful it is from other genres of music.
While these songs and stories of the Old West might not be completely true, it’s important to carry on the tradition, the Thunborgs said, and help others learn about and appreciate cowboy culture, they said.
“It’s a lot like folk music,” Jenna said. “It’s for the people. It’s relatable.”
For those on the outside looking in, the cowboy lifestyle might seem crazy or too hard, even if they appreciate the music and poetry it produces.
But, if the “Night Rider’s Lament” is anything to go by, the cowboys think everyone else is crazy. After all, they’re the ones missing out on the beauty of the untouched wilderness, the camaraderie of a cattle drive and seeing one’s perseverance pay dividends long-term.
“Why do they ride for their money? / Tell me: Why do they ride for short pay? / They ain’t a’gettin’ nowhere / And they’re losin’ their share / Boy, they must have gone crazy out there / Son, they all must be crazy out there.”
Click through additional photos from CCG’s Jan. 17 Jan. 17 “Kickin’ It Off” show:
Fred Powell, a Colorado Cowboy Gathering volunteer, inspects things at the back of the Buffalo Rose during the Jan. 17 afternoon show. The afternoon show, which was the first of the weekend, was sold out with more than 200 attendees. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Valerie Beard recites poetry during the Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show Jan. 17 at the Buffalo Rose. She was one of four poets who performed at the Jan. 17 afternoon show. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Doug Figgs performs at the Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show Jan. 17 at the Buffalo Rose. Figgs is a Western music singer/songwriter from New Mexico. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Twins Jenna and Kacey Thunborg perform during the Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show Jan. 17 at the Buffalo Rose. The sisters have performed at similar events, but said it was their first time performing at the Colorado Cowboy Gathering and visiting Golden. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Doug Figgs performs at the Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show Jan. 17 at the Buffalo Rose. This year’s Colorado Cowboy Gathering featured 10 poetry and musical acts from four states. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Peggy Malone performs during the Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show Jan. 17 at the Buffalo Rose. The show used to be held at the American Mountaineering Center, but moved to the Buffalo Rose last year. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Doug Figgs performs at the Colorado Cowboy Gathering’s “Kickin’ It Off” show Jan. 17 at the Buffalo Rose. This year’s show included 10 acts from four states. Credit: Corinne Westeman