About The Song
My Rifle, My Pony and Me is a classic western ballad written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Paul Francis Webster for the 1959 film Rio Bravo. Originally performed by Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson around a campfire in the movie, the song evokes the quiet end of a cowboy’s day with images of settling cattle, a setting sun, and the simple companionship of a rifle and a pony. Don Williams, known for his warm baritone and understated style, recorded his own version decades later as part of a collection of covers that reflected his lifelong appreciation for timeless material.
The track appears on Borrowed Tales, Williams’ album of classic songs released on August 8, 1995, through American Harvest Records. The thirteen-track project runs just over forty minutes and features interpretations of well-known pieces such as Fever, Crying in the Rain, Lay Down Sally, and Peace Train. My Rifle, My Pony and Me sits as the fourth track, clocking in at two minutes and five seconds, placed between Crying in the Rain and I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me).
By 1995 Don Williams had already compiled a remarkable run of seventeen number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and earned the nickname the Gentle Giant. Born in 1939 in Floydada, Texas, he had moved away from major-label releases after his RCA period and found a home on the independent American Harvest imprint. The album allowed him to revisit songs that spoke to his roots in folk and western traditions without the pressure of chasing contemporary radio trends.
Borrowed Tales did not appear on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. My Rifle, My Pony and Me remained an album cut rather than a single and received no separate chart placement. The project fit into the later stage of Williams’ career as he continued occasional recording and touring while stepping back from the intense schedule of earlier decades.
The lyrics follow a cowboy at day’s end as the sun sinks in the west and cattle head to the stream. Redwings settle in their nests while purple light fills the canyon. The narrator longs for the open range with his three faithful companions—his rifle, his pony, and the quiet comfort they bring. A whippoorwill sings in the willow as he rides toward Amarillo, knowing a loved one waits around the bend. The verses close with a peaceful acceptance of life on the trail.
Williams delivered the song with his characteristic restraint, letting acoustic guitar and subtle instrumentation carry the gentle melody. The arrangement stayed true to the original’s campfire spirit while matching the relaxed tone that defined much of his catalog. It blended seamlessly with the album’s other covers, creating a cohesive set of borrowed stories told in his signature voice.
The composition has endured since its film debut, appearing in various recordings over the years. Williams’ take added another layer to its legacy during a time when he explored material outside the mainstream country spotlight. He continued performing into the new century before health issues slowed him down and passed away in 2017 at age 78. My Rifle, My Pony and Me remains a quiet highlight from Borrowed Tales, capturing the simple western dream that first drew listeners to the song nearly four decades earlier.
Video
Lyric
The sun is sinking in the west
The cattle go down to the stream
The redwing settle in their nest
Its time for a cowboy to sing
Purple light in the canyon
That’s where I long to be
With my three good companions
Jus’ my rifle, my pony and me
Whiporwill in the willow
Sings a sweet melody
Ridin’ to Amarillo
Jus’ my rifle, my pony and me
No more cows to be ropin’
Nor more strays will I see
‘Round the bend she’ll be waitin’
For my rifle, my pony and me
For my rifle, my pony and me