So You Want to Be a Cowboy Singer
Waylon Jennings · Waylon & Company (w. Friends) [RCA Victor] [1983]
Waylon Jennings and Tony Joe White
(Tony)
City light are shining like diamonds
Coming from the southwestern lows
Big jet engines screaming like ten thousand horses
Another town, another show.
(Waylon)
I don't talk about the women that I've known from time to time
You know that I just can't be alone
You know there's no one waiting for me anywhere
That I love, like I love the one at home, love the one at home.
Chorus:
So you want to be a cowboy singer
It can make you rich or make you poor
Just turn it loose, let it out, and hook em' down the road
There's always room for one more.
--- Instrumental ---
(Waylon & Tony)
Sometimes when I look into the mirror
I can see that I've been crazy now and then
The lines on my face won't tell you where I'm going
But it sure as hell can tell you where I've been.
Chorus:
So you want to be a cowboy singer
Pick them ol' guitars every night
If you're ever down around Corpus Christi Texas
Be sure to tell them all, I said, ''Hi.''
"tell 'em me an' ol' Waylon said hi.''...
--- Instrumental to fade ---
So You Want to Be a Cowboy Singer
Waylon Jennings recorded "So You Want to Be a Cowboy Singer" for his 1983 collaborative album, Waylon & Company (w. Friends). The track captures the outlaw country spirit that defined Jennings' career, reflecting on the romanticized image of the cowboy against the realities of the profession. During this era, Jennings frequently collaborated with peers, blending his distinctive baritone with the contributions of fellow musicians to create a rich, communal sound. The song serves as a thematic anchor within the album, exploring the enduring allure of the American West and the music that celebrates it. Jennings' work throughout the early 1980s continued to solidify his status as a pivotal figure in country music, maintaining the raw, unpolished aesthetic that fans associated with his name. This recording remains a testament to his ability to articulate the complexities of the cowboy lifestyle through his signature vocal style and straightforward songwriting approach.