This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
A cowboy is to the prairie
As a sailor is to the sea
A cowboy is to the prairie
As a trucker is to the highway
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Well then you've never heard a cowboy's song
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Your daddy's not from Montana
You've never spent the night
Under the big sky
You've never been
Left behind for a saddle and a bottle of rye
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Well then you've never heard a cowboy's song
If you don't think that cowboys cry
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Well then you've never heard a cowboy's cry
If you don't think that cowboys cry
If you don't think that cowboys cry
You've never been left
For a campfire and a can of beans
You've never been left
For that big sky
For that big sky
For a saddle and a bottle of rye
And a bottle of rye
A cowboy is to the prairie
As a sailor is to the sea
A cowboy is to the prarie
As a trucker is to the highway
As a sailor is to the sea
A cowboy is to the prairie
As a trucker is to the highway
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Well then you've never heard a cowboy's song
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Your daddy's not from Montana
You've never spent the night
Under the big sky
You've never been
Left behind for a saddle and a bottle of rye
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Well then you've never heard a cowboy's song
If you don't think that cowboys cry
If you don't think that cowboys cry
Well then you've never heard a cowboy's cry
If you don't think that cowboys cry
If you don't think that cowboys cry
You've never been left
For a campfire and a can of beans
You've never been left
For that big sky
For that big sky
For a saddle and a bottle of rye
And a bottle of rye
A cowboy is to the prairie
As a sailor is to the sea
A cowboy is to the prarie
As a trucker is to the highway
Lyrics submitted by vacantskies
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This song is all about how people think tough guys don't have soft side, and...well...they do, they've never spent a night under that big sky.
Yep, this song is pretty much about tough guys and their soft sides. They can't cry, so they sing to let it out. They're crying both because they were left behind as kids, and because they're probably leaving people behind now. MCD did a lot of songs about being left behind.
And now, two random comments.
Try listening to "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" right after listening to this song.
My favorite drink is rye whiskey, and this song is totally responsible.