The Song of the Ox Driver
Brothers Four · In Person/Cross-Country Concert [Collector's Choice Music] [1999]
To me rol, to me rol, to my rideo
To my rideo, to my rodeo
To me rol, to me rol, to my rideo.
It was early in October-o
I hitched my team in order-o
To ride the hills of Saludio
To me rol, to me rol, to my rideo.
I pop my whip and I bring the blood
I make the leaders take the mud
We grab the wheels and we turn them around
One long pull and we're on hard ground.
When I got there the hills were steep
'T would make any tender person weep
To hear me course and pop my whip
And see my oxen pull and slip.
When I get home I'll have revenge
I'll have my family, I'll have my friends
I'll say goodbye to the whip and line
And drive no more in the wintertime...
The Song of the Ox Driver
The Brothers Four were a pioneering folk group known for their rich four-part harmonies and ability to adapt traditional material into polished pop arrangements. While they achieved significant commercial success with hits like "Greenfields" and "Big Bad John," their extensive discography also includes a wide range of international folk songs and ballads. "The Song of the Ox Driver" represents this broader commitment to global storytelling, showcasing the group's versatility beyond their standard repertoire. Recorded during a live concert setting, the track highlights the ensemble's dynamic vocal interplay and their capacity to bring lesser-known narratives to a mainstream audience. This performance captures the group's enduring appeal as interpreters of folk traditions, blending emotional depth with the tight harmonies that defined their career.