Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?
Producer
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? Lyrics
[Intro]
One, two, three, four
[Verse 1]
Oh, you get me ready
In your '56 Chevy
Why don't we go sit down in the shade?
Take shelter on my front porch
The dandelion sun scorching
Like a glass of cold lemonade
[Pre-Chorus]
I will do the laundry
If you pay all the bills
[Chorus]
Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie song?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
[Verse 2]
Why don't you stay the evening?
Kick back and watch the TV
And I'll fix a little something to eat
Oh, I know your back hurts
From working on the tractor
How do you take your coffee, my sweet?
One, two, three, four
[Verse 1]
Oh, you get me ready
In your '56 Chevy
Why don't we go sit down in the shade?
Take shelter on my front porch
The dandelion sun scorching
Like a glass of cold lemonade
[Pre-Chorus]
I will do the laundry
If you pay all the bills
[Chorus]
Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie song?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
[Verse 2]
Why don't you stay the evening?
Kick back and watch the TV
And I'll fix a little something to eat
Oh, I know your back hurts
From working on the tractor
How do you take your coffee, my sweet?
[Pre-Chorus]
I will raise the children
If you pay all the bills
[Chorus]
Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie song?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
[Bridge]
I am wearing my new dress tonight
But you don't, but you don't even notice me
Say our goodbyes
Say our goodbyes
Say our goodbyes
[Verse 3]
We finally sell the Chevy
When we had another baby
And you took that job in Tennessee
You made friends at the farm
And you join them at the bar
Almost every single day of the week
[Pre-Chorus]
I will wash the dishes
While you go have a beer
I will raise the children
If you pay all the bills
[Chorus]
Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie song?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
[Bridge]
I am wearing my new dress tonight
But you don't, but you don't even notice me
Say our goodbyes
Say our goodbyes
Say our goodbyes
[Verse 3]
We finally sell the Chevy
When we had another baby
And you took that job in Tennessee
You made friends at the farm
And you join them at the bar
Almost every single day of the week
[Pre-Chorus]
I will wash the dishes
While you go have a beer
[Chorus]
Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie song?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where is my Marlboro Man?
Where is his shiny gun?
Where is my lonely ranger?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
[Outro]
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, yippy-yi, yippy-yay
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, yippy-yi, yippy-yay
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, yippy-yi, yippy-yay
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, Ya-ya-ya, yay, ya-ya-yay
Where is my John Wayne?
Where is my prairie song?
Where is my happy ending?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where is my Marlboro Man?
Where is his shiny gun?
Where is my lonely ranger?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Where have all the cowboys gone?
[Outro]
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, yippy-yi, yippy-yay
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, yippy-yi, yippy-yay
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, yippy-yi, yippy-yay
Yippy-yi, yippy-yay, Ya-ya-ya, yay, ya-ya-yay
About
Genius Annotation
“Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, making it Paula’s only Top Ten hit song in the United States to date.
The song was nominated for three Grammy Awards: “Record of the Year,” “Song of the Year” and “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
What did Paula Cole say about "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"?
Genius Answer
Paula Cole insists that “Cowboys” was intended as an ironic study of the gender stereotypes that continue to plague us even in the more-politically-correct-than-thou ‘90s. “The story in the song isn’t about me “It’s about a sort of everywoman, and I’m looking at her life–compassionately,"
(Reference: LA Times)
- 2.Me
- 4.Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?
- 5.Amen
- 6.Feelin’ Love
- 9.Carmen
- 10.Happy Home
- 11.Autumn Leaves
- 12.Saturn Girl
- 13.Hush, Hush, Hush
- 14.Bethlehem
Credits
Producer
Writer
Video Director
Xylophone
Piano
Keyboards
Didgeridoo
Clarinet
Percussion
Drums
Pedal Steel Guitar
Recorded At
The Magic Shop, SoHo, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Released on
March 25, 1997
Songs That Interpolate Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? Covers
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? Remixes
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? Live Performances
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