About the Song
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”: A Ballad of Loneliness and the Cowboy Way of Life
Released in 1975, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” is a country duet by American music legends Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The song, a cautionary tale about the hardships of the cowboy life, became an instant classic, topping the Billboard Country Singles chart and earning a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Haggard and Nelson, two of the most iconic figures in country music history, bring their distinct voices and songwriting styles to the song, creating a powerful and moving duet. Haggard’s rough-hewn vocals capture the weariness and longing of the cowboy, while Nelson’s smoother delivery adds a touch of empathy and understanding.
The lyrics of “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” paint a vivid picture of the cowboy’s life, one of long hours, loneliness, and danger. The song warns of the heartbreak and hardship that await those who choose this path, but it also acknowledges the undeniable allure of the cowboy mystique.
The chorus, with its repeated plea to “mammas” not to let their sons grow up to be cowboys, is both heartbreaking and poignant. It speaks to the deep-seated fear of every parent for their child’s safety and happiness.
Despite its somber tone, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” is ultimately a song of love and respect for the cowboy way of life. It celebrates the independence, self-reliance, and connection to nature that are hallmarks of the cowboy spirit.
The song has been covered by countless artists over the years, and it remains a staple of country music radio and live performances. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners of all ages.
Key takeaways:
- “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” is a classic country duet by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
- The song is a cautionary tale about the hardships of the cowboy life.
- The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the cowboy’s life, one of long hours, loneliness, and danger.
- The song is ultimately a song of love and respect for the cowboy way of life.
Video
Lyric
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
Even with someone they love
Cowboys ain’t easy to love and they’re harder to hold
And they’d rather give you a song then diamonds or gold
Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levi’s
Each night begins a new day
And if you don’t understand him and he don’t die young
He’ll probably just ride away
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
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Even with someone they love
Cowboys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain Moringin’s
Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night
And them that don’t know him won’t like him
And them that do sometimes won’t know how to take him
He ain’t wrong, he’s just different
But his pride won’t let him do things to make you think he’s right
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
Even with someone they love
Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars and drive them old trucks
Make ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mama don’t let