a group of jolly cowboys discussing plans at ease says one i ll tell you something boys if you will listen please i am an old cow puncher you see me dressed in rags i used to be a good one boys and went on great big jags i have got a home boys a good one you all know although i haven t seen it since very long ago i m headed back to dixie once more to see them all i m going to see my mother when the work s all done this fall when i left my home boys my mother for me cried she begged me not to go boys for me she would have died my mother s heart is aching breaking for me that s all with god s help i ll see her when the work s all done this fall that very night this cowboy went out to stand his guard the night was dark and cloudy and storming very hard the cattle they got frightened and rushed in wild stampede the cowboy tried to head them while riding at full speed riding in the darkness so loudly he did shout trying hard to head them and turn the herd about his saddle horse did stumble and on him it did fall he ll not see his mother when the work s all done this fall send my mother my wages boys the wages i have earned i am so afraid boys the last steer i have turned i m headed for a new range i hear my master call i ll not see my mother when the work s all done this fall fred you take my saddle george you take my bed bill you take my pistol after i am dead then think of me kindly when you look upon them all i ll not see my mother when the work s all done this fall charlie was buried at sunrise no tombstone for his head nothing but a little board and this is what it said charlie died at daybreak he died from a fall he ll not see his mother when the work s all done this fall 