"Home on the Range" Lyrics - Roy Rogers Quiz

Answer: buffalo

It is an interesting fact that in no version of "Home on the Range" do the words "cows", "cowboys", or "cattle" appear. Although commonly sung by cowboy stars, it is more of a folk song in its references to the countryside before the advent of cowboys and cattle drives.

Answer: discouraging

The great contrast in the song is between the optimism and positive attitude suggested by the "range" and the negativity associated with cities. A four syllable word is required to make the lyric scan and thus "distressing" could never fit.

Answer: leisurely

"Oh, give me a land where the bright diamond sand
Flows leisurely down the stream;"
Again the feeling of relaxation or contentment is combined with the suggestions of a precious beauty conjured up by the words "bright" and "diamond".

Answer: Like a maid in a heavenly dream

Again it is the quietness of the flowing stream that the writer wishes to develop from the word "leisurely" he used before. He picks up the idea of the swan's movement having dream-like qualities for the powerful strokes of the paddling feet that propel it along remain invisible under the water. The whiteness is suggested in the purity of the word "maid".

Answer: pressed

The internal rhyme requires that "West" must be matched with a word of similar sound. This rules out "driven" and "chased". "Distressed" has too many syllables to fit. The tone used in this part of the lyric would appear to be regretful, though the choice of "pressed" is a diplomatic one which covers up the violence that is likely to have happened.

Answer: Red

"To the banks of Red River where seldom if ever
Their flickering campfires burn."
Again the word "seldom" picks up the idea of something from the past that was once common now happens very rarely. It is another note of regret introduced into the song.

Answer: glittering

"How often at night when the heavens are bright
With the light of the glittering stars,"
This time the sight of the stars is so impressive that he is caused to start wondering whether the glories of the world in the heavens is greater than the beauties of the world around him. The suggestion enhances both the stars and the special place he can watch them from which is the "range" of the song.

Answer: curlew

"Oh, I love these wild flowers in this dear land of ours;
The curlew I love to hear scream;"
We notice again that it is the beauties of nature that are unconnected with any traditional cowboys activity that the writer of the song is talking about.

Answer: antelope

"And I love the white rocks and the antelope flocks
That graze on the mountain-tops green."
Lots of attractive colours and images of reflected light have been employed in this song from "bright diamond sand", "white swan", "Red River", "bright", "glittering stars", "flickering campfires". They all add to the visual appeal of the "range" he is describing.

Answer: Kansas

The creators of "Home on the Range" were Brewster Higley, who wrote the words, and Daniel Kelley, who composed the music. Singing cowboys who have sung this popular song include Roy Rogers and Ken Maynard.