AARP Hearing Center
As promised in my Run for the ROSES and Good HORSES blog, and in honor of the National Day of the Cowboy, I’m sharing my playlist “Like A COWBOY” highlighting songs featuring Cowboy in the title. National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated on the fourth Saturday in July, falling on July 26th this year (2025). It’s a day to honor the contributions and spirit of cowboys and to preserve the pioneer heritage of the American West and cowboy culture.
My inspiration for the playlist was listening to Ashley McBryde’s “Aint Enough Cowboy Songs.” Not that I ever need a reason to explore music, it prompted me to determine if there was any truth to the premise. And lo and behold, I think there are plenty of Cowboy songs. But in the spirit of her assertion, I think there perhaps can never be enough Cowboy song, no matter how many are written and sung.
Some of my favorites include Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” Garth Brooks’ “Good Ride Cowboy” and “The Cowboy Song”, “Rhinestone Cowboy,” Randy Houser’s “Like A Cowboy,” Dustin Lynch’s “Cowboys & Angels,” and Waylon & Willie’s “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” as well as songs by some old cowboys, such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Marty Robbins. Perhaps the consummate singer of cowboy tales is one who also lived it, rode it, and wrote it – Chris LeDoux. He was an American country music singer, songwriter, and hall of fame rodeo champion, with 20 songs included on the list. Alas Chris died at the age of 56, though not before releasing over 35 albums, including at least 35 songs with Cowboy in the title.
Some rock and pop songs featuring cowboy in the title or sound include the classic Bon Jovi anthem “Wanted Dead Or Alive’ – I’m a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride… Tesla’s “Modern Day Cowboy,” Rickie Lee Jones’ Flying Cowboys,” George Michael’s “Cowboys And Angels,” Billy Joel’s “Ballad Of Billy The Kid,” Elton John’s “Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy” from the album of the same name, Eagles’ “Desperado,” and Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” declaring “Some people call me the space cowboy.”
I think you’ll enjoy this foray into the west in honor of the cowboy. Happy trails and happy listening.
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