The phrase “Son of a Gun” comes from the popular Ragtime Cowboy Joe swing song originally written in 1912.
“He always sings
raggy music to the cattle
as he swings
back and forward in the saddle,
on a horse – a pretty good horse!
He’s got a syncopated gaiter,
and you ought to hear the meter
to the roar of his repeater;
how they run – yes run! –
when they hear that he’s ‘a-comin’,
cause the western folks all know,
he’s a high-falootin’, rootin, tootin’,
son of a gun from ol’ Wyoming,
Ragtime Cowboy,
Talk about your Cowboy,
Ragtime Cowboy Joe.“
Go Cowboys!