In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Ever since he was a little lad,
Loves the rodeo.
Bucking broncs, yeah, sipping wine,
You got to see him go,
And all the ten-gallon girls
Love to hear him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Because
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Oh, Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You still ride the rodeo.
Up 'round the Colorado shore,
Down by the Ohio.
Sometimes even New Orleans,
Down by the Mardi Gras,
And all the ten-gallon girls
Love to hear him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
He's Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
He rides the rodeo.
Just a Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
You got to see him in the rodeo
When he's ridin', goin' too darn fast.
You got to hear the people
Scream and shout
They call him,
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
He's a
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
He goes...
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
I said,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Oh he's a Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Ever since he was a little lad,
Loves the rodeo.
Bucking broncs, yeah, sipping wine,
You got to see him go,
And all the ten-gallon girls
Love to hear him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Because
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Oh, Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You still ride the rodeo.
Up 'round the Colorado shore,
Down by the Ohio.
Sometimes even New Orleans,
Down by the Mardi Gras,
And all the ten-gallon girls
Love to hear him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
He's Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
He rides the rodeo.
Just a Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
You got to see him in the rodeo
When he's ridin', goin' too darn fast.
You got to hear the people
Scream and shout
They call him,
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
He's a
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
He goes...
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
Rides the rodeo.
Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
I said,
You got to see him yodel "Ay-hee-ho!"
Oh he's a Lonesome Cowboy Bill,
Lonesome Cowboy Bill
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The old Cowboy Rock'n; Roll genre.... along with "Sly Stone's Spaced Cowboy", and The Mothers of Invention's "Lonesome Cowboy Bert"........