About The Song
“Cattle Call” was written by Tex Owens and first recorded by him in 1934. Eddy Arnold cut his initial version in December 1944 during his first session for RCA Victor, and the song quickly became closely identified with him. He returned to it several times over the years, including a 1949 recording, the commercially successful 1955 arrangement with Hugo Winterhalter’s orchestra and chorus, and a 1963 remake that served as the title track of a western-themed album.
The 1955 version proved the most popular. Released by RCA Victor, it reached number one on the Billboard country chart and remained there for two weeks while spending a total of twenty-six weeks on the survey. It also made a modest appearance on the pop chart, peaking at number sixty-nine. The recording blended Arnold’s smooth vocal style with Winterhalter’s more orchestrated approach, reflecting the emerging Nashville Sound that helped broaden country music’s audience in the mid-1950s.
The lyric evokes the open range and the solitary work of a cowboy. It describes cattle on the move, coyotes howling, and a rider singing a lonesome call across the landscape. Arnold’s delivery included a distinctive yodel that became a hallmark of the song and reinforced its western character. The imagery and melody made it a natural fit for his image as a polished yet rooted country singer.
In 1963 Arnold released the album *Cattle Call* on RCA Victor, produced by Chet Atkins. The collection gathered western standards such as “Cool Water” and “The Streets of Laredo” alongside a new recording of the title song. The album marked Arnold’s first appearance on Billboard’s album charts. The song remained a fixture in his live performances and radio appearances throughout his career, serving as a signature piece for decades.
Arnold recorded “Cattle Call” once more in the 1990s as a duet with a young LeAnn Rimes, introducing the song to a later generation of listeners. Earlier covers by artists including Slim Whitman and Tex Ritter had already kept the composition in circulation, but Arnold’s interpretations remained the most widely recognized.
Within Eddy Arnold’s long career, “Cattle Call” stands as one of his most enduring recordings. Its multiple versions, strong chart performance in 1955, and lasting association with the singer have secured its place among the classic western-tinged country songs of the mid-twentieth century.
Video
Lyric
Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de
The cattle are prowlin’, the coyotes are howlin’
Way out where the dogies bawl
Where spurs are a-jinglin’, a cowboy is singin’
This lonesome cattle call
Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de
He rides in the sun ’til his days work is done
And he rounds up the cattle each fall
Ooh-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Singin’ his cattle call
For hours, he would ride on the range far and wide
When the night winds blow up a squall
His heart is a feather in all kinds of weather
He sings his cattle call
Whoo-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yod-el-od-el-lo-ti-de
He’s brown as a berry from ridin’ the prairie
And he sings with an ol’ western drawl
Ooh-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Singing his cattle call
Ooh-ooh-ooh-doo-di-di
Whoo-ooh-ooh-oop-doo-doo
Whoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh