About the song
In the annals of country music, there are few songs that capture the essence of the cowboy spirit quite like “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”. Written by Paul and Debbie Bryant, this poignant ballad was first recorded by Ed Bruce in 1975, but it found its true voice when it was covered by country music legends Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson in 1978.
Jennings and Nelson, two of the most iconic figures in outlaw country music, brought a gravitas and authenticity to the song that was unmatched. Their weathered voices, imbued with the trials and tribulations of life on the road, perfectly conveyed the song’s message of rugged individualism and the lure of the open range.
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” is more than just a song; it’s a cautionary tale, a lament for a dying way of life, and a celebration of the indomitable spirit of the American West. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the cowboy’s life: the long, lonely days, the harsh weather, the constant danger. But they also speak to the freedom and self-reliance that cowboys cherished, the sense of being one with the land and the animals.
The song’s chorus is a plea from a mother to her son, begging him not to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a cowboy. She knows the hardships that await him, the dangers he’ll face, the loneliness he’ll endure. But she also knows that the cowboy life is all he’s ever known, and that he’ll never be truly happy anywhere else.
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” is a timeless classic that has resonated with listeners for decades. It’s a song that speaks to the heart of the American West, and it’s a reminder of a time when men were men, horses were their steeds, and the open range was their home.
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Lyrics
[Verse 1: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson]
Cowboys ain’t easy to love
And they’re harder to hold
They’d rather give you a song
Than diamonds or gold
Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levis
And each night begins a new day
If you don’t understand him and he don’t die young
He’ll probably just ride away
[Chorus: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson]
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars or drive them old trucks
Let ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
‘Cause they’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
Even with someone they love
[Verse 2: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, & Both]
Cowboys like smoky old pool rooms
And clear mountain mornings
Little warm puppies and children
And girls of the night
Them that don’t know him
Won’t like him and them that do
Sometimes won’t know how to take him
He ain’t wrong, he’s just different
But his pride won’t let him
Do things to make you think he’s right
[Chorus: Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson]
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars or drive them old trucks
Let ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
‘Cause they’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
Even with someone they love