Purple Light and Whippoorwills

My daughter is learning new songs in kindergarten for the school's Spring concert. She sang me one of them and I think it has such cute lyrics. When I told my mom about it she informed me that it was a version of a Dean Martin/Ricky Nelson song. He sings "my rifle, my pony and me" but my daughter's version has "my knapsack, my pony and me" along with a few other kid-friendly changes. I'm going to see if I can hear the original version on youtube - any song with the words purple light and whippoorwill is sure to be good!

Purple Light

Sun is sinking in the west
The cattle go down to the stream
The redwing settles in the nest
It's time for a cowboy to dream

Purple light in the canyon
that is where I long to be
With my three
good companions
just my rifle, my pony and me

Gonna hang my sombrero
on the limb of a tree
Coming home
sweet my darling
just my rifle, my pony and me

Whippoorwill in the willow
sings a sweet melody
Riding to Amarillo
just my rifle, my pony and me

No more cows to be ropin'
No more strays
will I see
'round the bend she'll be waitin
For my rifle, my pony and me