There’s just something about cowboys that captures the American imagination.
Whether it’s the rugged individualism, the unbridled freedom, or the cowboy code of ethics, these men have always held a special place in our hearts.
And what could be more American than music?
From country classics to modern rock ballads, this list has it all.
So saddle up and enjoy these great tunes about America’s favorite frontier heroes!
Here are the 20 best songs about cowboys:
By the way, if you’re interested in songs about cowboys, you may also be interested in songs about adventure, songs about being rich, songs about farm life, songs about horses, and songs about los angeles.Cowboy Casanova – Carrie Underwood
Cowboy Casanova is a song by Carrie Underwood that was released in 2009.
The song is about a cowboy who is a ladies’ man and who breaks hearts.
The song is upbeat and has a country feel to it.
Underwood’s powerful vocal performance brings the song to life.
Cowboy Casanova is a fun song that is perfect for dancing and singing along to.
Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys is a song written by country music artists Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
The song was originally released in 1978, and it quickly became a hit, reaching the top of the country music charts.
Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys is a ode to the rugged individualism of the Cowboy lifestyle.
The song celebrates the freedom and adventure of life on the open range, but it also acknowledges the hard work and danger that comes with being a Cowboy.
Should’ve Been A Cowboy – Toby Keith
Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” is a song about the romanticized notion of the American cowboy lifestyle.
The song’s narrator reflects on what could have been having he chosen a life of riding horses and lassoing cattle instead of working a 9-to-5 job.
While the narrator clearly regrets not becoming a cowboy, he also recognizes that life is not as glamorous as it seems.
Cowboys must endure long hours in the saddle, often in harsh weather conditions.
They also have to be skilled in horsemanship and reluctant to ask for help.
Despite the challenges, the cowboy life still holds a certain appeal, which is reflected in Toby Keith’s song.
The Cowboy Rides Away – George Strait
The Cowboy Rides Away is a song written by American country music artist George Strait.
The song was released in October 1983 as the lead single from his album Right or Wrong.
The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in December 1983.
The song tells the story of a cowboy who is leaving the open range and riding off into the sunset.
The cowboy is leaving behind his life of freedom and independence, but he knows that he has to go.
The song is a tribute to the spirit of the American cowboy and the west.
It is a sad song, but it is also a celebration of the cowboy way of life.
Cowboy Song – Thin Lizzy
Released in 1976, “Cowboy Song” is a single from Irish rock band Thin Lizzy.
The song is about a group of cowboys who are heading west in search of fame and fortune.
Despite the hardships of life on the trail, the cowboys remain optimistic, singing about their dreams of becoming rich and famous.
“Cowboy Song” is an upbeat and catchy tune that captures the spirit of the American West.
The song was a top ten hit in Ireland and United Kingdom, and it remains one of Thin Lizzy’s most popular songs.
The Cowboy In Me – Tim McGraw
The Cowboy In Me is a song written and performed by Tim McGraw.
The song was released in 2002 as the third single from his album, Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors.
The Cowboy In Me is a ballad with country and western influences.
The lyrics tell the story of a man who is struggling to keep his cowboy lifestyle despite the changing world around him.
Despite its sad lyrics, the song is uptempo and features a catchy melody.
The Cowboy In Me was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Country chart and becoming one of McGraw’s signature songs.
Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? – Paula Cole
“Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” is a song written and performed by Paula Cole.
It was released in 1996 as the lead single from her album This Fire.
The song became a top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
In Canada, it reached number one on the RPM Top Singles chart.
“Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” is a mid-tempo folk rock song with country and pop influences.
The lyrics are about a woman longing for a “real man” and questioning where all the cowboys have gone.
Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves is a country singer-songwriter from Texas.
In 2018, she released “Space Cowboy” as the third single from her album Golden Hour.
The song is about a cowboy who has left his home on the range and ventured into outer space.
Musgraves has said that the song is about “taking your own path” and “not being afraid to be different.”
The song’s music video features Musgraves in a spacesuit, floating through the air and dancing on the Moon.
“Space Cowboy” was nominated for two Grammy Awards, and Musgraves won the award for Best Country Solo Performance.
Ain’t Always The Cowboy – Jon Pardi
Jon Pardi’s “Ain’t Always The Cowboy” is a song about the realities of life as a cowboy.
While the romanticized image of the cowboy is one of a carefree rider galloping across the plains, the reality is often very different.
Cowboys work long hours in all kinds of weather, and their jobs are often dangerous.
In addition, they often have to deal with loneliness and isolation.
“Ain’t Always The Cowboy” captures these realities without losing sight of the appeal of the cowboy lifestyle.
Cowgirls Don’t Cry – Brooks & Dunn
Cowgirls Don’t Cry is a song by country music duo Brooks & Dunn.
The song was released in 1998 as the fourth single from their album If You See Her.
Cowgirls Don’t Cry is a ballad about a cowboy who is nursing a broken heart after his girlfriend leaves him.
The cowboy is trying to be tough and act like he doesn’t care, but deep down he is hurt and misses her.
Despite the tough exterior, the cowboy is vulnerable and sensitive.
The song resonates with many people who have gone through a break-up.
The lyrics are relatable and the melody is catchy, making Cowgirls Don’t Cry one of Brooks & Dunn’s most popular songs.
Cowboy Take Me Away – The Chicks
The band’s fourth album, Fly, was released in 2000 and featured the song “Cowboy Take Me Away.”
The song is a ballad about cowboys and the romanticized notion of the American West.
It became one of the band’s most successful singles, reaching number one on the Billboard Country charts and winning a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group.
In the years since its release, “Cowboy Take Me Away” has become one of the most well-known country songs in the world.
Like A Cowboy – Randy Houser
“Like a Cowboy” is a song recorded by American country music artist Randy Houser.
It was released in August 2014 as the lead single from his second studio album, How Country Feels.
The song was written by Houser, Brice Long, and Mark Irwin.
“Like a Cowboy” is a mid-tempo ballad in which the narrator compares the feelings of a broken-hearted cowboy to those of an injured rodeo cowboy.
The song’s protagonist is a rodeo cowboy who is injured while competing.
Despite the pain, he continues to ride because he knows that is what cowboys do.
Cowboy – Kid Rock
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“Cowboy” is a song by Kid Rock, released in 1998 as the third single from his album Devil Without a Cause.
The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number one on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
It remains one of Kid Rock’s best-known songs.
The song’s lyrics describe a cowboy’s lifestyle, including riding horses and smoking cigars.
The music video for “Cowboy” was directed by Spike Jonze and was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards.
I Wanna Be A Cowboy – Boys Don’t Cry
I Wanna Be A Cowboy by Boys Don’t Cry is a song about the cowboy lifestyle.
The song portrays the cowboy as a tough, independent individual who is comfortable with both the good and bad in life.
The song also paints a picture of the wide open spaces of the American West, and how the cowboy is able to find freedom in this vast landscape.
While the song may be seen as romanticizing the cowboy lifestyle, it is also a tribute to the hardworking and rugged individuals who helped to settle the American West.
Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy) – Big & Rich
Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” is a song that celebrates the cowboy lifestyle.
The lyrics tell the story of a man who is tired of city life and decides to head out west in search of adventure.
He quickly realizes that the cowboy life is not as easy as it seems, but he persists because he knows that it is the life that he was meant to live.
The song describes the hardships of ranch work, but also the satisfaction that comes from a hard day’s work.
It also paints a picture of the close-knit community that exists among cowboys.
Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy – Chris LeDoux
Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy is a song written by Chris LeDoux.
The song is about the life of a cowboy and how they are often misunderstood.
The song talks about how cowboys are not just people who ride horses and rope cattle, but they are also tough, hardworking, and independent.
The song also talks about how cowboys have to deal with a lot of tough situations, such as being away from home for long periods of time, and how they often have to make do with what they have.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the cowboy way of life and how it is sometimes misunderstood.
Cowboy In LA – LANY
LANY is a three-piece alternative band from Los Angeles, California, consisting of members Paul Klein, Les Priest, and Jake Goss.
“Cowboy in LA” is the first track on their self-titled debut album, LANY, which was released on June 30, 2017.
The song was written by Paul Klein and produced by Les Priest.
The song is about the loneliness that comes with being a cowboy in Los Angeles.
The lyrics reference the movie “Thelma and Louise” and the TV show “Breaking Bad”.
The song has been described as “moody” and ” introspective”.
It has also been praised for its “catchy” chorus and “emotional” lyrics.
Cowboy Songs – Chris LeDoux
Chris LeDoux was a country singer and songwriter who was born in 1948 in Laramie, Wyoming.
He is best known for his songs about the American West, and “Cowboy Songs” is one of his most famous tracks.
The song tells the story of a group of cowboys who are herding cattle across the plains.
Despite the hard work and long hours, the cowboys are able to find joy in their simple way of life.
The song paints a vivid picture of the American West, and its lyrics have resonated with many people who have never even been to that part of the country.
Wanted Dead Or Alive – Bon Jovi
“Wanted Dead or Alive” is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi.
It was released as the third single from the band’s second album, Slippery When Wet (1986).
The song helped to launch the band to superstardom and has since become one of their signature tunes.
The lyrics tell the story of a weary cowboy who is looking for a place to rest his head.
Ghetto Cowboy – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Ghetto Cowboy by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is a song about cowboys living in the ghetto.
The lyrics tell the story of a group of friends who ride horses and play cowboy games in the streets of their neighborhood.
Although they are poor and live in tough conditions, they find joy in their cowboy lifestyle.
The song portrays the cowboys as tough and rugged, but also as good-hearted and fun-loving.
The chorus of the song includes the line “We keep it more real than most ’cause we’re ghetto cowboys.”
This line sums up the spirit of the song, which is about staying true to yourself and your friends, no matter what life throws your way.
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