Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys is a country music song chosen by the members of The Western Writers of America to be included in the Top 100 Western Songs of all time. It was first recorded by Ed Bruce and written by him and his wife Patsy Bruce. The song is a warning to all the mothers not to let their children become cowboys because of the tough and wandering life of cowboy culture.
According to Patsy, Ed started the song in 1975 on the way home from a recording session in Nashville. Though he had a verse and part of the chorus by the time he got home, it lay for a while, and he couldn’t finish it. So, one night they sat down together to work on it, and they finished it that night. Patsy also revealed that the song should also be called Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Guitar Players, however, it is not very commercial.
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Popular Recordings
Many artists covered and delivered their version of the song. Some of the most famous and striking versions are recorded by:
- Ed Bruce
- Chris LeDoux
- Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
- Gibson/Miller Band
- Ray Price
- Jimmy Phair
- Philomena Begley
- Tommy Dell
- Mats Rådberg
- The Chipmunks
- Liz Lyndell
- Lee Conway
- Kentucky
- Anne Kirkpatrick
- Dave Vernon and The Dixie Rebels
- Suzanne Klee & Harry Shannon
- Stellan
- The Clampetts
- Willie, Waylon, Cash & Kris
- Leon Russell
Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys Chart Performance
The song has been included in the top hits of the following charts:
- 1975-1976 – US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
– Canadian RPM Country Tracks
- 1978 – US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
– US Billboard Hot 100
– US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
– Canadian RPM Country Tracks
– Canadian RPM Top Singles
– Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks
- 1994 – Canada Country Tracks (RPM)
– US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)
In Albums
Here is the list of albums where the song has been released:
- Ed Bruce
- Songbook of the American West
- Waylon & Willie
- Red, White and Blue Collar
Television & Cinema
Lines and verses of the song have been featured and used on televisions and cinemas as well. Here is the list:
- The Electric Horseman
- 2015 TV commercial for the Volkswagen Passat
- The Cowboy Way
Listen (Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson Version)
Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys Lyrics
Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold They'd rather give you a song then diamonds or gold Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levi's 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 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 Cowboys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain mornin's 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 Mamas' don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars and 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 Mamas' don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks Let 'em be doctors and lawyers
