<P> In contrast to the rest of the musical, "The Farmer and the Cowman" does not further the plot but does allow the audience to witness the tension between the farmers and the cowmen, a tension that comes from the farmers' desire to protect their crops with fences while the cowmen prefer the freedom to move cattle over a wide open range . Carnes, Aunt Eller and Ike act as peacemakers and attempt to reconcile the two sides . The song appears to have no effect, and the two sides start fighting . Aunt Eller then shoots a gun in the air to stop the fighting, and conducts both groups--preaching peace with the lyrics of the song, but threatening violence . </P> <P> At the end of the song, however, there is a resolution . Both sides agree to act hospitably toward each other after receiving a bit of advice from Aunt Eller: </P> <Dl> <Dd> "I don't say I'm no better than anybody else, </Dd> <Dd> But I'll be danged if I ain't just as good!" </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> "I don't say I'm no better than anybody else, </Dd>

Oklahoma musical songs the farmer and the cowman