Released: 1978
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson’s ‘Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys’ is a cautionary tale about the romanticized cowboy lifestyle. The song paints a picture of the cowboy as a free spirit, who’s often misunderstood and lives a lonely, hard life despite the freedom and romance often associated with it.
The song kicks off with ‘Cowboys ain’t easy to love, and they’re harder to hold’. This line emphasizes the challenging nature of loving a cowboy, who’s often more interested in freedom and the open road than settling down. The ‘Lone star belt buckles and old faded Levi’s’ are symbols of the cowboy’s rugged lifestyle and individualism.
‘If you don’t understand him, and he don’t die young, He’ll probably just ride away’. This line hints at the cowboy’s restless spirit and the difficulties in understanding and keeping him grounded. It also subtly references the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the cowboy lifestyle, which can often lead to an early death.
The chorus, ‘Mammas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys’ is a plea to mothers to steer their children away from the cowboy lifestyle. The song suggests that they should instead aspire to be ‘doctors and lawyers and such’, professions that are more stable and respected.
‘Cowboys like smoky old poolrooms and clear mountain mornings, Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night’. This verse paints a vivid picture of the cowboy’s likes and dislikes, further illustrating his free-spirited nature and love for simple pleasures. The ‘girls of the night’ line suggests a preference for fleeting relationships over committed ones.
‘He ain’t wrong, he’s just different, But his pride won’t let him do things to make you think he’s right’. This line underscores the cowboy’s stubborn individualism. He’s not necessarily wrong in his ways, but his pride and refusal to conform can make him difficult to understand and accept.
The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, reinforcing the message that the cowboy lifestyle, while romanticized, is not an easy or desirable path. It’s a poignant reminder of the realities behind the cowboy myth and a plea for understanding and acceptance of the cowboy’s unique way of life.
