In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
This Ol' Cowboy
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
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Waiting on an eight o'clock train
You know, my woman left me here last night
Things ain't been quite the same
I gotta get on up to Dallas
Tie up a few loose ends
I gotta work a week
Get on the road again
Well, I don′t want you to think
You′re the first one to leave me out here on my own
'Cause this ain′t gonna be the first time
This ol' cowboy spent the night alone
Hit me!
No, I′ve been a fool but a bigger fool
I can't remember when I′ve been
Just to open up my heart
And let you walk right in
Now there's one thing in this life
That ain't hard for me to do
As soon as I kiss the lips of another woman
I′m gonna forget all about you
So I don′t want you to think
That you're the first one to leave me out here on my own
No, this ain′t gonna be the first time
This ol' cowboy spent the night alone
If you wrote all the woman′s names down I know
And let me pick one out
Wouldn't be one in the whole dang bunch
I′d give a hoot about
So I don't want you to think
That you're the first one to leave this ol′ boy out here on his own
No, it ain′t gonna be the first time
This ol' cowboy spent the night alone
Yea, yea, yea
The song "This Ol' Cowboy" by Asleep at the Wheel tells the story of a wanderer who is waiting for an eight o'clock train in San Anton. He mentions how his woman left him the night before and things haven't been the same since. He needs to get to Dallas to tie up some loose ends and work for a week to earn some money so he can hit the road again. He then admits that he has been a fool and that he has opened his heart to many women before but ultimately it never works out for him. He sings that as soon as he kisses another woman, he will forget all about the one who left him. Finally, he asserts that he doesn't care about any of the women he's been involved with, and that he has spent many nights alone like this one.
The song seems to be about a man's search for freedom and his resistance to being tied down in any relationship. He accepts that he has been a "fool" in the past and has opened up his heart to many women, but he is not looking for anything long term. He confidently declares that he will forget his woman as soon as he meets another one. The song is an excellent representation of the carefree, adventurous cowboy lifestyle that has been appealing to generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I′m sittin' down in San Anton′
The singer is currently in San Antonio.
Waiting on an eight o'clock train
The singer is waiting for a train that will arrive at eight o'clock.
You know, my woman left me here last night
The singer's significant other left them in San Antonio the previous night.
Things ain't been quite the same
The artist's life has been negatively affected by their significant other leaving.
I gotta get on up to Dallas
The artist needs to travel to Dallas.
Tie up a few loose ends
The singer needs to take care of unfinished business in Dallas.
I gotta work a week
The singer needs to work for a week.
Make a hundred dollars
The artist will earn one hundred dollars for their work.
Get on the road again
Once the artist has taken care of their business in Dallas and earned some money, they will resume traveling.
Well, I don′t want you to think
The artist wants to clarify something for the listener.
You′re the first one to leave me out here on my own
The singer has been left alone before and doesn't want the listener to think they are the first to do so.
'Cause this ain′t gonna be the first time
The artist is confident that this won't be the first time they have been left alone.
This ol' cowboy spent the night alone
The singer has, in the past, spent nights alone as a result of being left by a significant other.
No, I′ve been a fool but a bigger fool
The singer has made foolish mistakes, and perhaps this is partly responsible for their current situation.
I can't remember when I′ve been
The singer doesn't remember a time when they have been in such a situation.
Just to open up my heart
The artist has allowed someone to get close to them emotionally.
And let you walk right in
This person has entered the artist's life.
Now there's one thing in this life
The singer has discovered something important.
That ain't hard for me to do
The singer finds it easy to move on from a failed relationship.
As soon as I kiss the lips of another woman
The artist can move on from a failed relationship quickly by finding someone new.
I′m gonna forget all about you
The artist will no longer think about their previous significant other once they have found someone new.
If you wrote all the woman′s names down I know
The artist knows a lot of women.
And let me pick one out
If the singer were to randomly choose a woman from their list, they wouldn't care about her.
Wouldn't be one in the whole dang bunch
None of the women the artist knows are important to them.
I′d give a hoot about
The singer doesn't care about any of the women they know.
No, it ain′t gonna be the first time
Again, the singer is confident that this won't be the first time they have been left alone.
This ol' cowboy spent the night alone
The singer expects to spend another night alone due to their significant other leaving.
Yea, yea, yea
This is just a repeated phrase that adds emphasis to the song.
Writer(s): Toy Caldwell
Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.