ADD: Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to...

Subject: Mama, don't let your kid (?) grow up ...
From: Selene
Date: 13 Jan 98 - 04:00 PM

Hi guys

I seem to remember a text that went something like "mama, don't let your kid grow up to be a cowboy" and then something about them dying, i'm not entirely sure what it is or what set this of, but I can't get this line out of my head! any help on the rest of the lyrics? it could be country, if that's any help, but I'm not sure. Oh, and on a good note, I passed my driving test after only 5 times (the dutch is the strictest in the world)!

Selene

Subject: RE: Mama, don't let your kid (?) grow up ...
From: Jaxon
Date: 13 Jan 98 - 05:01 PM

Hi Selene, That's "Mama don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys" written by Ed & Patsy Bruce. I know Willie Nelson covered it as well as many others. A bit of trivia - Ed Bruce played the town sheriff in the revival of Maverick, starring James Garner, about 10-15 years ago. I'm not sure if the lyrics are posted here but they are in Rise Up Singing. It's one of the few c&w songs I really like. Congratulations on getting your license. Now you probably won't have any time to post notes to the forum. Good luck! Jack Murray

Subject: RE: Mama, don't let your kid (?) grow up ...
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Jan 98 - 07:32 PM

Yes, we have it in the DT. I searched for [to be cowboys] and found it.

Subject: RE: Mama, don't let your kid (?) grow up ...
From: pete savage
Date: 13 Jan 98 - 10:46 PM

the lyrics and the chords can be found at: gopher://gopher.ttu.edu/11/Pubs/Mailing-Lists/Professional/cowpie-songs/Nelson.Willie

pete savage

Subject: RE: Mama, don't let your kid (?) grow up ...
From: Selene
Date: 15 Jan 98 - 05:21 PM

I wasn't sure of the words, I did do a search and turned up nothing. I probably know it from Willy Nelson, my parents have some cd's with him on it, I think... Jaxon, thanks for that bit of trivia-I love trivia, and don't worry, I'll keep coming.

Selene

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMAS DON'T LET YOUR BABIES ... ACTIVISTS
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 06:39 AM

Another great parody from Elizabeth Block:

Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Activists
(Elizabeth Block)

Activists never stay neutral, they're always involved,
They won't take a break until all the world's problems are solved,
If they're not on the street at a demo,
they're stuck in a meeting that's totally boring
With cup after cup of bad coffee,
so their comrades won't catch them snoring.

Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be activists!
Or else I'm afraid that your son and your daughter
Will spend all their time getting into hot water,
Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be activists
They sign petitions as if it could
Actually do some good

Activists won't get a job, at least not one that pays,
A nine-to-five job would take too much time out of their days,
They run for office, but nobody with any sense is surprised when they lose,
If they're hell-bent on wasting their money,
why don't they blow it on drugs and booze?

Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be activists
If you can't find the money for them to make bail
You'll find yourself visiting them in jail

Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be activists!
When they argue their cause they go on far too long,
They're always right, and you're always wrong,
And as for their sense of humour, I wonder
how many will laugh at this song!

Words: Elizabeth Block, 4 May 2012
Music: Ed & Patsy Bruce

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMAS DON'T LET YOUR COWBOYS ... BABIES
From: voyager
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 03:06 PM

I heard this song on the radio driving around upstate New York in the late '80s.
Tony Jo White and Waylon - Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up to Be Babies

Adding parody -

mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
just let 'em play at war...and get way too rough
let 'em be sloppy and macho and tough
mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
if coddled at home, they'll be dead on their own
that doesn't mean you can't love

cause it ain't sissy to love, but you must not control
cause a mother does a boy, wrong if killin' his soul
a boy needs his knuckles when dealin' with wise guys
boys fight and get into frays
and if you should reprimand him, his spirit dies young
and probably just fades way

mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
just let 'em play at war...and get too rough
let 'em be sloppy and macho and tough
mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
if coddled at home, they'll be dead on their own
that doesn't mean you can't love

young boys like smokin' in pool rooms, and brawls without warning
they'll be eruptin' with venom and quarrel every night
and those that annoy him...he'll strike 'em
and though, he'll lose sometimes
it's better than shakin'... it's just wrong to be wimpy
and his pride won't put up with things, John Wayne might feel, not right

mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
just let 'em play at war...and get too rough
let 'em be sloppy and macho and tough
mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
if coddled at home, they'll be dead on their own
that doesn't mean you can't lo

Subject: RE: ADD: Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Nov 21 - 05:27 PM

So, who wrote the original?
Tony Becker says Ed & Patsy Bruce

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMAS DON'T LET YOUR BABIES ... SCHOLARS
From: GUEST,email from Elizabeth Block
Date: 18 Jan 22 - 12:21 AM

I'm especially proud of rhyming "bandanna" and "arcana".

MOMMAS, DON'T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE SCHOLARS
(parody by Elizabeth Block)

Scholars are flabby and pale, they get no exercise
    They read all night, then they stare at you with red bleary eyes
Their tummies are aching with too many meals of bad coffee, fries and Bic Macs
    Their shoulders are hunched and their fingers are grimy from dusty old library stacks

Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be scholars
    Or teachers or preachers or college perfessors
    Let 'em be cowboys, musicians, actresses
Mommas, don't let you babies grow up to be scholars
    Whether they publish or whether they perish, it's no life for your daughter or son.

Scholars they never go dancing, they won't sing a song
    You go to a concert or party, they won't come along
Their minds are engaged with the tiny details of what some hundred-years-dead author wrote
    They get all excited and jump up and down when they find them a brand-new footnote

Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be scholars
    Let 'em wear a Stetson, chaps, a bandanna
    And not have their heads stuffed with useless arcana
Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be scholars
    Chained to their desk with their nose in a book
        They never have time to eat, let alone cook
    No wonder they have such a gloomy outlook
    They never have any fun!


Words: Elizabeth Block
Music: Ed & Patsy Bruce

Subject: RE: ADD: Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Apr 22 - 07:30 PM

Ed and Patsy Bruce are the authors of the original song, I believe.