He Ain't a Cowboy
Casey Donahew Lyrics
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Can′t two-step across this floor
Them boots ain't ever seen the mud
Can′t be what you're looking for
He's got a half-assed smile and fake southern drawl
He′s dressed up like the Marlboro man
He′s never backed in a box or dropped in a chute
And he's never rode for a brand
′Cause he ain't a cowboy, he ain′t a plowboy
He's just a city boy in disguise
And he′s never drove a tractor, maybe that's the kind of man you're after
And he can′t saddle up no horse, so, he ain′t ever gonna ride away
And I'm a saddle sore puncher in a buckle I won
I′m sure to break your heart one day
He's never pulled no plow from dusk ′til dawn or thrown hay 'til the sun came up
He′s never hooked no bass on a Texas rig, hell, the man don't drive a truck
And he'll be out across town tomorrow night, skinny jeans ′cause he has no shame
He′s never tipped his hat for guts or glory while riding through the pain
'Cause he ain′t a cowboy, he ain't a plowboy
He′s just a city boy in disguise
And he's never drove a tractor, maybe that′s the kind of man you're after
And he can't saddle up no horse, so, he ain′t ever gonna ride away
And I′m a saddle sore puncher in a buckle I won
I'm sure to break your heart one day
He′s sellin' you a lie, girl, here′s a lesson you will learn
Those boots don't make a cowboy, baby, it′s a title that you earn
So if you leave with me tonight, know that it's hell I'll put you through
But we′ll be rolling down south with them speakers cranked up
Listening to Chris LeDoux
He ain′t a cowboy, he ain't a plowboy
He′s just a city boy in disguise
And he's never drove a tractor, maybe that′s the kind of man you're after
And he can′t saddle up no horse, so, he ain't ever gonna ride away
And I'm a saddle sore puncher in a buckle I won
I′m sure to break your heart one day
Yeah, I′m a saddle sore puncher in a buckle I won
I'm sure to break your heart one day
The lyrics of Casey Donahew's "He Ain't a Cowboy" describe a man who pretends to be a cowboy, but in reality, he is just a city boy in disguise. The singer contrasts himself, who is a true cowboy with a "saddle sore puncher in a buckle" he won, with the other man who wears boots that have never touched mud and has never ridden for a brand. The city boy dresses up like the Marlboro man and puts on a fake southern drawl complete with a half-assed smile, but he has never worked a real cowboy's job.
The singer warns the woman not to be fooled by the city boy's disguise and to learn the lesson that boots do not make a cowboy. In contrast, the singer promises to take her down south, listening to Chris LeDoux, a popular country singer and rodeo champion. The underlying message in the song is that titles like cowboy are not just for show; they are earned through hard work and dedication.
Overall, "He Ain't a Cowboy" is a commentary on the urbanization of cowboy culture and the "fake" cowboys who dress up for show without earning the title. It celebrates the authenticity and hard work that true cowboys put in to earn their title.
Line by Line Meaning
He found that buckle in a pawn shop
He didn't earn that buckle by proving himself as a cowboy
Can't two-step across this floor
He lacks the basic knowledge of cowboy dances
Them boots ain't ever seen the mud
His boots are not worn out from working in the fields like real cowboys
Can't be what you're looking for
He doesn't possess the qualities of a real cowboy that you desire
He's got a half-assed smile and fake southern drawl
He's pretending to have a southern accent even though he doesn't have one
He's dressed up like the Marlboro man
He's wearing the attire of a cowboy without actually being one
He's never backed in a box or dropped in a chute
He has never competed in rodeo events or experienced being a real cowboy
And he's never rode for a brand
He has never worked for a cattle company or experienced being a real cowboy
He ain't a cowboy, he ain't a plowboy
He is not a true cowboy or someone who works on the land
He's just a city boy in disguise
He's a city dweller pretending to be a cowboy
And he's never drove a tractor, maybe that's the kind of man you're after
He has no experience driving a tractor or working on the land, and perhaps you want someone who does
And he can't saddle up no horse, so, he ain't ever gonna ride away
He can't ride a horse since he's not a real cowboy, so he won't be able to run away with you
I'm sure to break your heart one day
The singer knows he's not an ideal partner, and he will inevitably cause you emotional pain
He's sellin' you a lie, girl, here's a lesson you will learn
He's lying to you about being a cowboy, and you will regret falling for it
Those boots don't make a cowboy, baby, it's a title that you earn
Wearing cowboy boots doesn't make one a cowboy; it's a title earned through hard work and experience
So if you leave with me tonight, know that it's hell I'll put you through
The artist warns the listener that being with him may not be easy due to his past experiences
But we'll be rolling down south with them speakers cranked up listening to Chris LeDoux
The artist suggests enjoying good music while driving through the south together
Writer(s): Casey Joe Donahew
Contributed by Owen A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.