Billy first became known to fans in the early 1990s with his appearance on "Star Search." He later earned a recording contract with Liberty Records and rose to national stardom with a string of Top 10 hits on Billboard magazine's country singles chart. His debut song, 1991's "Only Here For a Little While," rose into the Top 5, while the follow up, "Somewhere in My Broken Heart," repeated the feat. "Somewhere in My Broken Heart" won the 1992 Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year; he also took home the ACM's New Male Vocalist award..
Dean's string of hits continued in the early- and mid-1990s, with songs like "You Don't Count the Cost" (1991); "Only the Wind," "Billy the Kid" and "If There Hadn't Been You" (all 1992); "Tryin' to Hide a Fire in the Dark" (1993); "We Just Disagree" (a remake of the 1970s Dave Mason hit) (1993); "It's What I Do" and "That Girl's Been Spying on Me" (both 1996).
In 1991 Dean wrote and sang the theme song to the ABC animated television series Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa. It is titled "Up on the Mesa".
During the late 1990s, his career slowed down a bit, although he made several television appearances, including "One Life to Live" and "Wings." He and Alison Krauss sang backup on Kenny Rogers' 2000 single "Buy Me a Rose". At the time, the song made Kenny the oldest artist to score a country #1; it also marked the only time that Dean reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
In 2004, Dean was signed to Asylum Curb, where he began a comeback with the single "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (a remake of John Denver's classic). In early 2005, he released the album Let Them Be Little, which featured both "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and the title track. "Let Them Be Little" was co-written by Richie McDonald, who at the time was the lead singer of Lonestar; Lonestar also recorded the song on their 2005 album Let's Be Us Again. Dean's version of the song became his first Top Ten hit on the country charts in nearly nine years.
Cowboy Band
Billy Dean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I Had myself a dream
I'd get a horse and ride the range
With Roy and Gene
We'd save the girl in the nick of time
And have the fastest guns
Sing a song while the credits rolled
And disappear into the setting sun
I didn't want to play football
Or be a business man
All I ever really wanted to do was play in a cowboy band
So give me a guitar
And some shined up boots
And I'll show you where I stand
Somewhere out on the Navajo trail (Somewhere out on the stage tonight)
Playin' in a cowboy band
When I was nine I stood in line
To see Merle and The Strangers play
But when the show was over and the lights went down
I climbed up on that stage
I looked at all that I would play
And they'd be dancin' in the aisles
So give me a guitar
And some shined up boots
And I'll show you where I stand
Somewhere out on the Navajo trail (Somewhere out on the stage tonight)
Playin' in a cowboy band
Yea, I just might be in your hometown tonight
But I'll be playin' in a cowboy band
The song “Cowboy Band” by Billy Dean narrates the story of a young boy who dreamt of being in a cowboy band rather than following conventional careers such as playing football or becoming a businessman. He idolized Roy Rogers and Gene Autry and envisioned himself riding the range, saving the girl in the nick of time, and having the fastest guns. As the boy grew up, he continued to hold onto his dream and began attending country music concerts at a young age. He became determined to be part of a country band and play for audiences just like his childhood idols.
The lyrics of the chorus emphasize his passion for music and performing, “So give me a guitar, and some shined-up boots, and I'll show you where I stand. Somewhere out on the Navajo trail, playing in a cowboy band.” He longs to play music out on stage and entertain a crowd, just as he imagined himself doing as a young boy.
The song celebrates the idea of following one's dreams and passions, even if they go against societal expectations or norms. Billy Dean’s "Cowboy Band" highlights the importance of pursuing what you truly desire in life, even when others don't quite understand your vision.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young and just a boy
During my childhood, at a tender age
I Had myself a dream
I had an aspiration
I'd get a horse and ride the range
I'd own a horse and travel the countryside
With Roy and Gene
In the company of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, my cowboy heroes
We'd save the girl in the nick of time
We'd rescue the damsel in distress at the last possible moment
And have the fastest guns
Our shooting skills would be unmatched
Sing a song while the credits rolled
We'd perform a musical number during the film's closing credits
And disappear into the setting sun
We'd make a swift exit as the sun went down
I didn't want to play football
Playing football wasn't my desired activity
Or be a business man
A profession in business didn't really interest me
All I ever really wanted to do was play in a cowboy band
My ultimate goal was to be part of a musical group that embraced cowboy culture
So give me a guitar
I only require a guitar
And some shined up boots
Some polished boots would complete my attire
And I'll show you where I stand
You'll see my worth
Somewhere out on the Navajo trail (Somewhere out on the stage tonight)
In a more figurative sense, I'll be performing on stage tonight
When I was nine I stood in line
At the age of nine, I queued up
To see Merle and The Strangers play
I wanted to see Merle Haggard perform with his band The Strangers
But when the show was over and the lights went down
As soon as the performance ended and the lights were dimmed
I climbed up on that stage
I stepped onto the platform
I looked at all that I would play
I envisioned myself performing on that same stage
And they'd be dancin' in the aisles
The audience would be exuberantly dancing
Yea, I just might be in your hometown tonight
It's likely that I'm performing in your hometown tonight
But I'll be playin' in a cowboy band
However, I won't be playing solo; I'll be playing with my cowboy band
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JULE MEDDERS, RICHARD BELMONT JR. POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind