"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" is a country music song first recorded by Ed Bruce, written by him and wife Patsy Bruce. His version of the song appears on his 1976 self-titled album for United Artists Records. In late 1975-early 1976, Bruce's rendition of the song went to number 15 on the Hot Country Singles charts. This song was featured on Chris LeDoux's album released January 20, 1976, Songbook of the American West, and in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Rose. Most recently, it is the title song for Netflix's The Ranch, a show about the ups and downs of a family of ranchers in Colorado.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose the song as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
Video Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
Content
The narrator warns mothers not to let their children become cowboys because of the tough and busy life of cowboy culture.
Maps Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
Chart performance
Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson version
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson covered the song on their 1978 duet album Waylon & Willie. This rendition peaked at No. 1 in March 1978, spending four weeks atop the country music charts. It also reached 42 on the Billboard Hot 100, and won the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Also in 1979, Nelson's version was featured in the film The Electric Horseman with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. It is also featured in a 2015 TV commercial for the Volkswagen Passat.
Chart performance
Gibson/Miller Band version
In 1994, country music group Gibson/Miller Band recorded a cover version on its album Red, White and Blue Collar. This version peaked at #49 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and was featured in the soundtrack for the movie The Cowboy Way. It also appeared on the band's second and final studio album, Red, White and Blue Collar.
Other versions
Deana Carter & Sara Evans on the 2003 album I've Always Been Crazy (A Tribute To Waylon Jennings) RCA 07863-67064-2 USA.
A version of the song by Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings was used as the theme tune for Netflix comedy The Ranch. In this version the song starts with "Cows ain't easy to love and they are harder to hold" which makes sense for the rancher culture the show portrays.
A version of the song was recorded by Lucinda Williams on the "Imus Ranch Record". a benefit compilation of country and roots music released Sept 16, 2008.
Popular culture
The song is referenced and subverted in the "Weird Al" Yankovic song Dare to Be Stupid, the title track on his album Dare to Be Stupid. The song, a pastiche parody of the band Devo, dares the listener to engage in several "stupid" acts, among them counting chickens before they hatch, selling wine before its time, and letting "babies grow up to be cowboys."
Chart performance
References
External links
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Source of article : Wikipedia
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