McCall was born Billie Dale Fries on November 15, 1928, in Audubon, Iowa. His father was also called Billie and so he was the junior. He later legally changed his name to William Dale Fries, Jr.
McCall is best known for the 1976 No. 1 hit song, "Convoy". Its theme of using CB radio to rebel against the new federal speed limit of 55 mph was popular and topical so the single sold over two million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in December 1975. Though McCall is not a one-hit wonder, "Convoy" went on to become his signature song. McCall first charted the song "Wolf Creek Pass", which reached No. 40 on the U.S. pop top 40 in 1975. Two other songs reached the Billboard Hot 100, "Old Home Filler-Up an' Keep on a-Truckin' Cafe", as well as the environmentally-oriented "There Won't Be No Country Music (There Won't Be No Rock 'n' Roll)". "Classified" and "'Round the World with the Rubber Duck" (a pirate-flavored sequel to "Convoy") bubbled under the Hot 100. A dozen McCall songs appeared on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, including the sentimental "Roses for Mama" (1977).
In 1978, the movie Convoy was released, based on the C. W. McCall song. The film starred Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Burt Young, and Ernest Borgnine and was directed by Sam Peckinpah. It featured a new version of the song, written specially for the film.
The song "Convoy" is featured in Grand Theft Auto V. In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked "Convoy" No. 98 on their list of 100 Greatest Country Songs.
In addition to the "original six" McCall albums released between 1975 and 1979, two rare singles exist. "Kidnap America" was a politically/socially-conscious track released in 1980 during the Iran hostage crisis, while "Pine Tar Wars" referred to an event that actually happened in a New York Yankees–Kansas City Royals baseball game during 1983 (a dispute concerning the application of a large quantity of pine tar to a baseball bat used by George Brett, one of the Royals' players).
Fries died on April 1, 2022, at age 93 from complications of cancer. In an interview he conducted on February 9 while in palliative hospice care, he gave his blessing for the use of his signature song "Convoy" for the Freedom Convoy protests in Canada, with Taste of Country noting that he was "energized and enthusiastic" about the revival of interest in the song and its message.
The Cowboy
C.W. McCall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus]
Four wheel cowboy
Four wheel cowboy
Four wheel cowboy
Jeepin' down to Santa Fe
Foot in the gas an' a hole in my boot
And I'm outbound, yeah
Gonna see my momma in Santa Fe
I'm over the Hump and I'm on my way
I'm southbound
[Chorus]
Three hundred miles to Santa Fe
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
Gonna be there by the break of day
And I'm southbound
Three hundred miles to Santa Fe
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
Gonna be there by the break of day
And I'm southbound
Now this ol' Jeep needs a coat a' paint
But she makes up for what I ain't
She got feelin'
I only know one thing fer sure
This pony a' mine don't need no spurs
She's squealin'
[Chorus]
Four wheel cowboy
Four wheel cowboy
Four wheel cowboy
Jeepin' down to Santa Fe
Well, Texaco's open in Trindad
I didn't stop for gas but I wished I had
'Cause I could use some
They's a bunch a' wild women in Walsenburg
They all make love like a buffalo herd
I wish I knew one
[Chorus]
Two hundred miles to Santa Fe
Gonna be there by the break of day
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
And I'm southbound
Two hundred miles to Santa Fe
Gonna be there by the break of day
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
And I'm southbound
Rattlin' down off a' Raton Pass
Glorieta Hill like a sheet a' glass
And I'm slippin'
Pedalin' down past Pecos town
My go foot up and my stop foot down
I'm slidin'
[Chorus]
Four wheel cowboy
Four wheel cowboy
Four wheel cowboy
Jeepin' down to Santa Fe
Now Momma's just like this here ol' Jeep
She's tough and fast and she runs real cheap
And she's drivin'
Well, sun comin' up in New Mexico sky
Got a burr in my saddle and a fire in my eye
An' I'm flyin'
[Chorus]
Fifteen miles to Santa Fe
Gonna be there by the break of day
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
And I'm southbound
Fifteen miles to Santa Fe
Gonna be there by the break of day
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
And I'm southbound
c'mon now, Paint
We almost there
Only one more mile, honey
We comin' Momma
Here we come
Can'tcha see us comin' Momma?
We comin'!
Only one more mile, Momma!
We stuck into four wheel drive, baby!
Here we come!
Whoo!
The song "Four Wheel Cowboy" by C.W. McCall is about a man who is driving in his Jeep from Denver to Santa Fe to see his mom. The chorus repeats the phrase "Four wheel cowboy" throughout the song, highlighting the idea that the singer is a kind of cowboy, but instead of riding a horse, he drives a Jeep. The lyrics come across as light-hearted and fun, with the singer encountering wild women and enjoying the journey along the way.
The song presents a clear narrative, with the singer navigating various landmarks on his journey to Santa Fe, including the Hump, Raton Pass, and Glorieta Hill. The lyrics also focus on the character of the Jeep, noting how it doesn't need spurs to move quickly, and how it makes up for the driver's lack of certain attributes.
Overall, "Four Wheel Cowboy" is an upbeat, catchy song about a man on a journey. It celebrates the freedom and fun of hitting the open road, and the sense of adventure that comes with exploring new places.
Line by Line Meaning
Four wheel cowboy
The singer describes himself as a 'four wheel cowboy' who is making the journey to Santa Fe in his Jeep.
Four wheel cowboy
Repetition of the phrase to emphasize the persona's identity as a rugged cowboy traveling in his Jeep.
Four wheel cowboy
The listener is reminded yet again that the persona driving the Jeep is a cowboy.
Jeepin' down to Santa Fe
The artist is driving a Jeep and is traveling to Santa Fe.
Well, Denver town an' I'm outta the chute
The artist has left Denver and began his journey to Santa Fe.
Foot in the gas an' a hole in my boot
The singer is driving his Jeep with urgency and has a hole in his boot.
And I'm outbound, yeah
The singer is leaving Denver and heading towards Santa Fe.
Gonna see my momma in Santa Fe
The artist is visiting his mother who lives in Santa Fe.
I'm over the Hump and I'm on my way
The persona has surpassed a difficult part of the journey and is now on his way to Santa Fe.
I'm southbound
The artist's Jeep is headed further south from Denver towards Santa Fe.
Three hundred miles to Santa Fe
The total distance of the journey remaining between Denver and Santa Fe is 300 miles.
Got a momma to see or the Devil to pay
The artist will either see his mother or suffer the consequences.
Gonna be there by the break of day
The persona plans to reach Santa Fe by dawn.
Now this ol' Jeep needs a coat a' paint
The singer's Jeep is old and could use a new coat of paint.
But she makes up for what I ain't
Despite the Jeep's worn exterior, the vehicle makes up for what the singer, as a cowboy, lacks in certain areas.
She got feelin'
The Jeep has added value because it is responsive and sensitive to the road.
I only know one thing fer sure
The artist is certain about one thing only.
This pony a' mine don't need no spurs
The Jeep does not need spurs (which are used as encouragement or a warning for a horse) to run smoothly.
She's squealin'
The Jeep responds with a sound, adding to the persona's experience and excitement of driving it.
Well, Texaco's open in Trindad
The persona notices that Texaco is open at Trinidad, a town along the journey from Denver to Santa Fe.
I didn't stop for gas but I wished I had
The artist did not stop to refuel but he wishes he had, as fuel levels may get low during the long journey.
'Cause I could use some
The persona recognizes that he may need to stop for fuel in the near future.
They's a bunch a' wild women in Walsenburg
The persona has knowledge that there are many wild women in Walsenburg town.
They all make love like a buffalo herd
The women from Walsenburg are known for making love in a way that is similar to how buffalo herd mate.
I wish I knew one
The persona wishes that he had intimate knowledge of one of these wild women.
Two hundred miles to Santa Fe
The remaining distance for the journey between Denver to Santa Fe is 200 miles.
Rattlin' down off a' Raton Pass
The Jeep is shaking and rattling as it moves off Raton Pass.
Glorieta Hill like a sheet a' glass
Glorieta Hill is smooth and the persona likens it to glass.
And I'm slippin'
The Jeep is slipping while the persona is driving down the hill.
Pedalin' down past Pecos town
The Jeep is moving quickly past Pecos town.
My go foot up and my stop foot down
One foot is on the accelerator and the other is on the brake pedal.
I'm slidin'
The Jeep is sliding to the sides while moving at high speeds.
Now Momma's just like this here ol' Jeep
The artist compares his mother's nature to that of his old Jeep.
She's tough and fast and she runs real cheap
The mother figure is strong and rugged, with a reliable and thrifty personality.
And she's drivin'
Personifying the mother figure as someone who is 'driving' the persona forward, just like the Jeep.
Well, sun comin' up in New Mexico sky
The persona is admiring the sunrise in the sky of New Mexico.
Got a burr in my saddle and a fire in my eye
The singer is excited and eager about reaching Santa Fe to see his mother.
An' I'm flyin'
The singer is moving towards Santa Fe at great speed.
Fifteen miles to Santa Fe
The remaining distance between the persona and Santa Fe is only 15 miles.
Can'tcha see us comin' Momma?
The artist is in a hurry to reach his mother and is wondering whether she can sense his arrival.
We comin'!
The artist is almost at his destination and is declaring this proudly.
Only one more mile, Momma!
The singer is giving the remaining distance between himself and his mother, which is just a mile.
We stuck into four wheel drive, baby!
The Jeep is using four wheel drive to move faster and smoother towards Santa Fe.
Here we come!
The persona is exclaiming triumphantly in anticipation of his arrival.
Whoo!
The artist is expressing excitement and relief that he can now finally see his mother soon.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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