Cowboys and Angels

George Michael

When your heart's in someone else's hands
Monkey see and monkey do
Their wish is your command
You're not to blame
Everyone's the same

All you do is love and love is all you do
I should know by now the way I fought for you
You're not to blame, everyone's the same, mmm-whoa

I know you think that you're safe
Mister
Harmless deception
That keeps love at bay
It's the ones who resist that we most want to kiss
Wouldn't you say?

Cowboys and angels
They all have the time for you
Why should I imagine that I'd be a find for you
Why should I imagine
That I'd have something to say

But that scar on your face
That beautiful face of yours
In your heart there's a trace
Of someone before

When your heart's in someone else's plans
Things you say and things you do
They don't understand
It's such a shame
Always ends the same

You can call it love but I don't think it's true
You should know by now
I'm not the boy for you
You're not to blame
Always ends the same

I know you think that you're safe
Sister
Harmless affection that keeps things this way
It's the ones who persist for the sake of a kiss
Who will pay

Cowboys and angels
They all take a shine to you
Why should I imagine that I was designed for you
Why should I believe
That you would stay

But that scar on your face
That beautiful face of yours
Don't you think that I'd know
They've hurt you before

Take this man to your bed
Maybe his hands will help you forget
Please be stronger than your past
The future may still give you a chance


Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by MrsLJC, lec7grs, hannahgee98

Cowboys and Angels Lyrics as written by George Michael

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Cowboys and Angels song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    Here George is writing about a someone he wants, but they are involved with someone else. The person desire is in an abusive relationship and George is trying to comfort and persuade them to leave the relationship. It reads as though the person in the drama is a prostitute. The cowboys and angels are the johns. And in this story this person is also in a controlling relationship. George want to give this person hope and encouragement to live.
    Battlestationbabyon September 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Cowboys and Angel is a term used by the gay community to describe relationship.good and bad as well as roles, cowboy- masculine and angel- famine this song was feature in the eddie murphy movie ' boomerang, but with no credit given to the artist. it is not on the soundtrak
    spikesprincesson September 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Cowboys and Angel is a term used by the gay community to describe relationship.good and bad as well as roles, cowboy- masculine and angel- famine
    spikesprincesson September 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this is without any doubt my favorite george michael song. i care about the musical content of it first of all to say, rather thatn the words. yet, the thing is that i never listen to his songs (and infact couldn't)as it were written towards a gay. what he says is valid for any type of relation. you have the gooddies and baddies in your relations and so you become one as well. but life goes on and you get to have another chance and nothing is unforgettable and as he says for
    papillonsquestionon May 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    everyone ıt becomes the same rıtual
    papillonsquestionon May 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is about a love triangle George Michael was in with Kathy Jeung and a guy
    Eltonfanon October 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation
    The songwriter is involved with someone who won't commit. He has fought for this person, and that only makes him more determined to win that person's affection. Ultimately the songwriter knows his fate: "It's the ones who persist ... who will pay."
    lyricalONEon July 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Eltonfan is correct, George was in love with Brad Branson (who died in 2012) photographer and friend of Kathy's. She was in love with George, but he was hopelessly in love with Brad who in turn did not love George, but was happy to be his lover. Brad also had lots of other lovers at the same time.
    gm1963on November 13, 2015   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning
    George said in an interview, that this song is about a love triangle when he was perused by a woman while he was madly in love with a man. None of this came to anything, but at least he got a song out of it in the end. He also added that no one ever guesses this meaning behind the song and that he found it quite entertaining.
    Marcellalaon April 24, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is such a beautiful song...... this is about Winning and losing in love and this is George’s narrative of It ........It’s the ones who resist who we most want to kiss ....... it’s the ones who persist for the sake of a kiss who will pay. So for a healthy relationship don’t sell your soul or give up ur integrity or your view to please ur partner.
    Lordy73on May 01, 2020   Link

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