Out Where the West Begins

Out Where the West Begins:
And Other Western Verses

Title page (1917)
Author	Arthur Chapman
Publisher	Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication date	1917

"Out Where The West Begins"—Cover of sheet music, 1920.

"Out Where the West Begins" is a poem written by Arthur Chapman and first published in his 1917 book of verse, Out Where the West Begins: And Other Western Verses. It is his most popular poem, still included in modern readings and compilations of Cowboy and Western poetry.

Poem

The poem as written by Chapman:

Out where the handclasp's a little stronger,

Out where the smile dwells a little longer,

That's where the West begins;

Out where the sun is a little brighter,

Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter,

Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter,

That's where the West begins.

Out where the skies are a trifle bluer,

Out where the friendship's a little truer,

That's where the West begins;

Out where a fresher breeze is blowing,

Where there's laughter in every streamlet flowing,

Where there's more of reaping and less of sowing,

That's where the West begins.

The poem was set to music by Estelle Philleo and published in 1920.

External Links

• Sheet music for "Out Where the West Begins", by Estelle Philleo, lyrics by Arthur Chapman, Forster Music Publisher, 1917.

Bibliography

• Chapman, Arthur. Out Where the West Begins: And Other Western Verses. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company (1917).
• Chapman, Arthur (w.); Philleo, Estelle (m.). "Out Where The West Begins" (Sheet Music). Chicago: Forster Music Publisher, Inc. (1920).