Gary and Maureen Shoe
  • HOME
  • SONGS
    • ARROYO RECORDS >
      • The Enemy Must Die by Don Lewis
      • Bear Tracks >
        • Don't Look Down On Me
        • Satisfied
      • Johnny Macias >
        • Curious
        • He Loves Me Out Of It
        • Lifetime Plan
        • Shut Up And Show Me
    • All The Things You Gave
    • Alone On Halloween
    • Arapaho March
    • Arroyo
    • As Long As You Are Mine
    • Autumn Melody
    • Autumn Melody with Vocal
    • Barbeque In Guffey
    • Bells of San Miguel
    • Ben
    • Bossa with Band In A Box
    • the BRASS RING
    • Courtly Love
    • Currant Creek Suite
    • Day All Day
    • Diminishing Returns
    • Don't Cry
    • Easy Breezy
    • Easy Breezy II - the vocal version
    • End Of The Line
    • Feel Like Flying
    • Fort St Vrain Slide Show
    • Good Together
    • Hawaiian Bossa
    • Holiday Street
    • How Can I Get Back
    • Indigo Girl
    • In Her Garden
    • I Took My Love
    • La Mirada (Instrumental Version)
    • La Mirada with Vocals
    • Legacy
    • Little Jewels
    • Little Martin Medley - Dos Guitarras Saturday Jam Candles
    • Lookout Mountain
    • Lulu City
    • My Mother
    • Old Mose
    • OLD STUFF >
      • You Sent Her
      • Sunday Plans
      • Simple Days
      • Angels (God Should Send)
      • Dakota Girl
    • One Last Ride
    • On the Trail of Old Mose
    • Owen What's Growin'
    • Pioneers
    • Raising A Joyful Sound
    • Rusty
    • Sacajawea
    • She's the Tao
    • Santa Cecilia
    • Should Have Known Better
    • Ski Medley: 'A Little Bit Slower' and 'Father Dyer'
    • Some Lucky Someone
    • Starborn Album >
      • 1. We
      • 2. Come and Gone
      • 3. Christy
      • 4. Dance Around
      • 5. When We're Dreaming
      • 6. Why Don't You Believe?
      • 7. Glory Be
      • 8. Person to Person
      • 9. Starborn
      • 10. Dolphin Ride
      • 11. Silver fox
      • 12. Pale Blue (cover)
      • 13. Sundown In Soccoro
      • 14. Trails Grown Dim
      • 15. For Everyone
    • She's Gone With God
    • Sophia
    • The Flood
    • This Precious Love
    • Time Stands Still
    • Voices In The Waters
    • Water Street
    • When I Could Pick Like Chet
    • When You Were Born In May
    • Wiley's Song
  • Videos
    • ORTEGA & SHOE
    • Arroyo Tour
    • Canyon Melody
    • Owen Where You Going
  • History
    • Lookout Mountain Auto Race
    • Flood of 2013
    • Buckman Mine Slide Show
    • Goosetown Then and Now
    • House Where Mom Was Born Slide Show
    • Nevadaville Slide Show
  • Family
    • Owen's Message
  • Guitar Talk
    • Gary Atkins Transcription
  • CONTACT
  • Gary's Blog from 2013
Picture
Special thanks to Paul Carestia for playing pedal steel
​
​
Lots of stuff out there about this old bear. But as in days of yore, much of it was, or is, exaggerated.
 
His name, Mose, was derived from his love for 'moseying around'.  In James Perkins's excellent book "Old Mose", much new information is discussed. For instance, 'some' bear killed Jake Radcliff in 1883, but it probably wasn't the 3-toed bear killed in 1904 by James Anthony. But do read up and see what you think. "Old Mose" could very well have been a composite of several South Park Grizzlies. Some reached 1000+ lbs and struck terror in the hearts of the ranchers in southern Park County.
 
I hope you enjoy this tune about a legendary bear who was, to the end, just following his instincts. Thanks to Mike Nelson who inspired me to write it and who helped with the historical accuracy of the lyrics.
Picture
Wharton Pigg owned the Stirrup Ranch. ​He was focused for many years on hunting Old Mose, but didn't have the key ingredient for running down bears, which was a good set of hounds.

Picture
James Anthony was the expert lion and bear hunter who finally brought down Old Mose


                               On The Trail Of Old Mose
 
                        Following fresh tracks in the snow
                        all over South Park  he roams
                        look, one foot only has 3 toes
                        they must be on the trail of Old Mose
                      
                        they said he was here before anyone came
                        and he got a taste for cattle one   day
                        that thousand pound grizzly was hated by all
                        just following his natural ways
 
                                     
             chorus              they're on the trail of Old   Mose
                                   and his legend still grows
                                   on the trail of  old    Mose
                                   wherever that old bear goes
                                   they're on the trail of Old Mose
 
                        they got him one day up Stirrup Ranch way
                        a hunter and a pack of old hounds
                        they chased him 'round the side of Black Mountain
                        and they put Old Mose on the ground
 
                        they found a few more holes in him
                        than the hunter left that day
                        he'd been hit by many a bullet before
                        but always lived to see another day
 

   chorus


Picture
Near the Stirrup Ranch with Black Mountain in the background

​
Picture
Picture
Picture


click here for an instrumental version of this song > Old Mose

Picture
 Bear Trap similar to the one that Wharton Pigg placed in a pond. Mose was momentarily caught, but ripped free, leaving 2 toes behind.

This image, as well as several others, comes from James Perkins's book, essential reading for fans of Old Mose
.
​

Picture
This variation on a bear trap could be seen years ago, near Lulu City, a remote ghost town in Rocky Mountain National Park. It's from the 1880's era. This picture is from Caroline Bancroft's book "Unique Ghost Towns and Mountain Spots".

click here for a song about Lulu City




Picture
As a young history buff, I was proud to have been friends with Caroline
Gary and Maureen post other songs on
http://soundcloud.com/gary-shoe/