Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey.… Read Full Bio ↴Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald. Original bassist Alec John Such quit the band in 1994, and longtime guitarist and co-songwriter Richie Sambora left in 2013. The band has been credited with "[bridging] the gap between heavy metal and pop with style and ease".

In 1984 and 1985, Bon Jovi released their first two albums and their debut single "Runaway" managed to crack the Top 40. In 1986, the band achieved widespread success and global recognition with their third album, Slippery When Wet, which sold over 20 million copies and included three Top 10 singles, two of which reached No. 1 ("You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer") Their fourth album, New Jersey (1988), was also very successful, selling over 10 million copies and featuring five Top 10 singles (a record for a glam metal album), two of which reached No. 1 ("Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You"). After the band toured and recorded extensively during the late 1980s, culminating in the 1988–1990 New Jersey Tour, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora released successful solo albums in 1990 and 1991, respectively.

In 1992, the band returned with the double-platinum Keep the Faith. This was followed by their biggest-selling and longest-charting single "Always" (1994) and the album These Days (1995), which proved to be a bigger success in Europe than in the United States, producing four Top Ten singles in the United Kingdom. Following a second hiatus, their 2000 album Crush, particularly the lead single, "It's My Life", successfully introduced the band to a younger audience, and the band considered this their comeback album. The band followed up with Bounce in 2002. The platinum albums Have a Nice Day (2005) and Lost Highway (2007) saw the band incorporate elements of country music into some of the songs, including the 2006 single "Who Says You Can't Go Home", which won the band a Grammy Award and became the first single by a rock band to reach No. 1 on the country charts. The Circle (2009) marked a return to the band's rock sound. The band also enjoyed great success touring, with both the 2005–2006 Have a Nice Day Tour and 2007–2008 Lost Highway Tour ranking among the Top 20 highest-grossing concert tours of the 2000s. After recording and releasing Because We Can in 2013, lead guitarist Richie Sambora left the band just before an April concert during the supporting tour to spend more time with his family. The band released their first studio album without Sambora, Burning Bridges, in 2015 and the follow-up album This House Is Not for Sale in 2016, the tour for which encompassed 2017–2019. Their most recent album 2020 (2020) was re-worked to include songs inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests; its supporting tour was delayed to 2022.

Bon Jovi consisting of frontman Jon Bon Jovi, drummer Tico Torres, keyboardist David Bryan, lead guitarist Phil X, bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist John Shanks have unveiled a video for the lead single “Legendary” from their upcoming studio album Forever, which will be released on June 7, 2024. Forever is the follow up to Bon Jovi‘s studio album 2020, which was released back on October 2, 2020.

Bon Jovi has released 15 studio albums, five compilations and three live albums. They have sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling American rock bands, and performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. The band received the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards in 2004, and Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Jovi

Studio albums
Bon Jovi (1984)
7800° Fahrenheit (1985)
Slippery When Wet (1986)
New Jersey (1988)
Keep the Faith (1992)
These Days (1995)
Crush (2000)
Bounce (2002)
Have a Nice Day (2005)
Lost Highway (2007)
The Circle (2009)
What About Now (2013)
Burning Bridges (2015)
This House Is Not for Sale (2016)
2020 (2020)
Forever (2024)

Ride Cowboy Ride
Bon Jovi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ride cowboy ride
Through the back door to heaven to the other side
I wanna know the danger of a kiss at midnight
Ride, cowboy, ride

Yeah, I learn my lesson
In the story of trial
So I made my confession

In this sleazy motel

I could be the romantic
I could try my best lines
But I ain't got the money
And we ain't got the town

Ride, cowboy, ride
Through the back door to heaven to the other side
I wanna know the danger of a kiss at midnight
Ride, cowboy, ride, oh

So you want to be a cowboy
Ride, ride, ride
You wanna be a big shot

Baby, come on
Ride, ride, ride

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Ride Cowboy Ride" by Bon Jovi are intriguing, as they describe a desire for danger, adventure and ultimately a way to reach heaven. The repeated phrase "Ride cowboy ride" has a sense of urgency as if the singer is desperate to escape their current situation and embark on a new journey. The line "through the back door to heaven to the other side" depicts an unconventional way to reach a better place, which could refer to the idea of taking risks and trying new things to get to a better life. Moreover, the lyrics mention "the danger of a kiss," which could suggest living life on the edge, indulging in passion and impulsivity.

The verses focus on a specific experience of the cowboy, describing how they learned their lesson "in the story of the trial." The singer later confesses in a cheap motel, perhaps revealing an illicit affair or an act of rebellion that they feel guilty about. The line "like could try me pleasant, but ain't got the money" suggests that the cowboy is not wealthy or successful, yet they still have a strong desire to succeed and explore.

Overall, "Ride Cowboy Ride" is a song that invokes a sense of thrill-seeking, adventurous spirit, and a longing for a better life. The repeated line "ride, cowboy ride" is a call to action, an encouragement to take risks and pursue a new path.

Line by Line Meaning

Ride cowboy ride.
Start your journey cowboy, take control.

Through the back door to heaven.
Take an alternate path to greatness, not the usual route.

To the other side.
To the next phase of life, beyond the current state.

I want to know the danger of a kiss.
Curiosity about the potential danger and consequences of affection.

At midnight.
At a moment where darkness and uncertainty prevails.

Ride, cowboy, ride.
Encouragement to be brave, steadfast, and driven.

Yeah, I learn my lesson.
The singer has learned from their past mistakes.

In the story of the trial.
A story about overcoming a difficult challenge.

So I made my confession.
The artist has admitted to their wrongdoing or misguided actions.

In this cheaper motel.
Confession happened in an inexpensive or less desirable location.

Like could try me pleasant.
An attempt to make the setting comfortable and peaceful.

But ain't got the money.
Lack of financial resources to facilitate a better environment.

'N ain't got the town.
Reference to a small or remote town where resources are limited.

So you want to be a cowboy.
Prompt to consider the challenges and expectations of a cowboy lifestyle.

Baby, come on.
Encouragement to take the leap of faith and embark on the journey.

Ride, ride, ride.
Continuing the encouragement to keep going, regardless of obstacles.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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