Lyr Add: Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond...

Subject: Lyr Req: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ..
From: Genie
Date: 18 Jun 06 - 11:14 PM

I've heard snippets of this song, recorded by Willie Nelson, recently on www.airamericaradio.com and I thought Willie had written it. But in searching for the lyrics here, I found it attributed to by Ned Sublett (which is a funny enough name in itself -- is is day job a landlord?).

Anyway, the song's title, or at least hook line is:
Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other

Can someone post the lyrics, please?

It's a simple country waltz tune, not unlike "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" or "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."

Subject: Lyr Add: COWBOYS ARE FREQUENTLY SECRETLY FOND ,,,
From: Genie
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 03:34 PM

.. of Each Other.

I found references to this song in a couple threads but didn't find the lyrics. It's too good not to be here.

Listen to song

COWBOYS ARE FREQUENTLY SECRETLY FOND OF EACH OTHER
(by Ned Sublette
recorded by Willie Nelson)

There's many a strange impulse out on the plains of West Texas;
There's many a young boy who feels things he don't comprehend.
Well, small towns don't like it when somebody falls between sexes,
No, small towns don't like it when a cowboy has feelings for men.

Well I believe in my soul that inside every man there's a feminine,
And inside every lady there's a deep manly voice loud and clear.
Well, a cowboy may brag about things that he does with his women,
But the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer.

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other --
What did you think those saddles and boots was about?
There's many a cowboy who don't understand the way that he feels towards his brother,
Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out.

Ten men for each woman was the rule way back when on the prairie,
And somehow those cowboys must have kept themselves warm late at night.
Cowboys are famous for getting riled up about fairies,
But I'll tell you the reason a big strong man gets so uptight:

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other.
That's why they wear leather, and Levis and belts buckled tight.
There's many a cowboy who don't understand the way that he feels towards his brother;
There's many a cowboy who's more like a lady at night.

Well there's always somebody who says what the others just whisper,
And mostly that someone's the first one to get shot down dead:
When you talk to a cowboy, don't treat him like he was a sister.
Don't mess with the lady that's sleepin' in each cowboy's head.

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other,
Even though they take speed and drive pickups and shoot their big guns;
There's many a cowboy who don't understand the way that he feels towards his brother;
There's many a cowboy who keeps quiet about things he's done.


History and background of the song/Wikipedia

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond
From: Metchosin
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 03:38 PM

Thank you, thank you Genie! I've been looking for this song for years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: alanabit
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 03:39 PM

Thanks. Marion sang this for us when she visited a couple of years ago. It's hilarious - and she did it very well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: The Shambles
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 05:23 PM

Surprised it was not featured in Brokeback Mountain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Genie
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 05:30 PM

LOL, Shambles,

It wasn't featured in that movie, but it did start getting some radio attention after the film came out.*


*so to speak ;)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 03:05 AM

I KNEW those leather legging things were called chaps for a reason!!

Kinda makes you wonder about all them head of cattle too...

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Genie
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 08:00 AM

Gives a whole new meaning to terms like "riding shotgun," too, eh?
;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: BanjoRay
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 09:03 AM

Not to mention the Goodnight-Loving Trail
Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 09:16 AM

so lets get this straight..

when cowboys go to town to get all liquered and riled up..


is that why they then go out looking to give someone a good ass whuppin!!!??



.. and back shooting !??

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Genie
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 03:11 PM

Well, some prefer to be the "cookie" and others take the position of ramrod.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 04:07 PM

So now we all know how the Western saddle was developed....

LTS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: chazkratz
Date: 17 Sep 06 - 06:51 PM

How, Liz? Or why?

Charles

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Genie
Date: 18 Sep 06 - 10:28 AM

"I'm back on ... er ... IN the saddle again ... "

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond
From: Metchosin
Date: 18 Sep 06 - 11:25 AM

I think the version of the lyrics posted is slightly altered from Ned Sublette's original. When I heard it by Sublette on the CBC years ago, I recall a line that referred to leather and "high heels".

Watching some wrangler precariously trying to navigate a rocky patch of ground in boots with 2 inch stacked heels never failed to make me giggle and recall this song. Really graceful in the saddle, as awkward as a blue footed booby on the ground. Damned good thing mind reading wasn't possible.

I figured it could only be sung in a wire cage, by some very brave or foolhardy individual in some of the places I have visited out here in the past. Nice to know that things have changed.....a little bit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Sep 06 - 06:48 PM

Been there, done that (so to speak) in April, and mentioned again here in June.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond ,,,
From: Genie
Date: 18 Sep 06 - 07:31 PM

Why didn't it show up when I did a DT and Forum search for "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond"?   I got links to two posts that mentioned it but not to anything with the lyrics posted.