This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
I've been walkin' these streets so long
Singin' the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle's the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone
Well, I really don't mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you're down when you're ridin' the train
That's takin' the long way
And I dream of the things I'll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There'll be a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know
Singin' the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle's the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone
Well, I really don't mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you're down when you're ridin' the train
That's takin' the long way
And I dream of the things I'll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There'll be a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know
And offers comin' over the phone
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin' cards and letters from people I don't even know
Lyrics submitted by OpinionHead
Rhinestone Cowboy Lyrics as written by Larry Weiss
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song takes me back to when I was all of seven years old. In the summer of 1975 I was gleefully on the road with my parents off to another horse show. This one happened to be in Minneapolis where my Grandma lived. Dad usually had the radio tuned to a country western station, which was OK, since back then there were actually some pretty good C/W tunes. Some of the ones that stick out in my memory are Roger Miller's King of the Road (covered admirably by Rufus Wainwright and Teddy Thompson on the Brokeback Mountain CD) and Tanya Tucker's Delta Dawn. But none captured my imagination quite like Glen Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy.
Thanks for sharing! That's a great story which prompts many memories for me as well.
@celery beautiful words
I think the song is about shortcut to success,
I've been walkin' these streets so long (He had lived long)
Singin' the same old song (being idling and living a monotonous life)
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway (crack=weakness, dirty=ruined/corrupted, Broadway=society)
Where hustle's the name of the game (Speed is the key factor to success)
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain (Honest people are ignored)
There's been a load of compromisin' On the road to my horizon But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me (I'm gonna get the fame by any means)
Well, I really don't mind the rain And a smile can hide all the pain (Ignoring the cost of the fame, probably moral values, or family or friends, or the humiliation before success)
But you're down when you're ridin' the train that's takin' the long way (even a train was considered too long, meant his yearn for quick success)
And I dream of the things I'll do With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe (Finding means to take the shortcut to success)
There'll be a load of compromisin' On the road to my horizon But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me (repeat)
LOL... this song isn't gay. KayaOtah hit it pretty much square on target. <br /> <br /> A "Rhinestone Cowboy" refers to the "Singin' Cowboys" of the 40's and 50's, such as Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, and Roy Rogers. They often wore quite "gay apparel" adorned with sequins and embroidery.<br /> <br /> On a tangent... John Wayne was the first "Singin' Cowboy" as "Singin' Sandy" back in 1933, even though he lip-synced to someone else's voice (oh, for shame, Duke!). John Wayne couldn't sing, and his fans expected him to, so Monogram finally left the singing out of those Lone Star westerns. He didn't wear gay outfits though.
It's clearly about Gay Cowboys.
i used to listen to this when i was seven too... except now i'm eighteen!! hahaha gotta love my parents. but i don't think of this as a gay song - yeah, there's the whole "rhinestone" and "cowboy" i guess but the meaning is pretty clearly not a part of that. i just always think of the "star-spangled rodeo" because those were the only lyrics i could really visualize back then. it was actually kind of pretty.
Nine Stone Cowboy
It's about it's taking long to reach his goals and dreams. He's down by the delayements and knows it still gonna take a long time with a lot of delay (compromises), but he's willing to take it and he will get there someday. He's still dreaming although he got no means, only a dollar in his shoe. Broadway is the big showbusiness he wants to get in, he's walking the sidewalks of broadway, probably in small roles to get in. He is also experienced and knows being too nice or honest won't do. Same old road, may be it's time for some changes.
In all of the history of the internet, 'LOL gay' as a stock response to almost everything has never been appropriate or funny. Like infinite monkeys and typewriters, it hits home. It's really gay, and it's about a cowboy.
Then again it demonstrates (Camp)bell's great songwriting skills. What a hook. You dont' have to like Campbell, Elton John, ABBA and so many others to acknowledge that they understand how to construct intro, chorus, coda etc.
It's not Britten, but it's excellent feelgood popcorn countrypop. If you can't enjoy this, you are dead inside. I'm glad that I stopped being an up-my-own-arse muso pseud - it just took me 50 years.
I've been walkin' these streets so long<br /> (He had lived long)<br /> <br /> Genius. That made my night. <br /> <br /> Seriously, this is not Shakespeare.
@cornwell It's not about a gay cowboy. It's not about a cowboy at all. It's about attaining success after much effort and rejection.<br /> Glen Campbell didn't write the song either. It was written by Larry Weiss.