148. Yesteryear's Queers' Word of the Day #15- Lavender Cowboy

Lavender Cowboy

An effeminate gay man

-1920s-

"Vernon Dalhart in the late 20's sold over a million with his classic "The Prisoner's Song," but it was one of his very last recordings, in 1939, that got my attention. He was not the first to record "Lavender Cowboy," but his was the recording that was declared a "blue record" by the radio industry, therefore banning it. And, we know that the Vernon Dalhart version of the song was banned by radio" 

(https://www.queermusicheritage.com/mar2005lavender.html)

The Lavender Cowboy by Harold Hersey from "Night" 1923 He was only a lavender cowboy, The hairs on his chest were two, But he wished to follow the heroes And fight like the he-men do. But he was inwardly troubled By a dream that gave him no rest, That he'd go with his heroes in action With only two hairs on his chest.

First he tried many a hair tonic. 'Twas rubbed in on him each night. But still when he looked in the mirror Those two hairs were ever in sight. But with a spirit undaunted He wandered out to fight, Just like an old-time knight errant To win combat for the right. He battled for Red Nellie's honor And cleaned out a holdup's nest He died with his six guns a-smoking With only two hairs on his chest.