Morgan was born in Kingston Springs, Tennessee and grew up in rural Tennessee. He became an Emergency medical technician at age 18. A few years later, he joined the Army and was stationed in South Korea. He would later see combat as part of Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989. During his deployment in Korea, Morgan wrote a number of songs and won various military singing and songwriting contests. He is a vocal supporter of the US military, performing for service-personnel in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Upon his return home to Tennessee, he worked various jobs to support his family, including working as a construction worker, a security guard and a sheriff's deputy. He would later land a job in Nashville singing demos for other songwriters and publishing companies.
The demos led to releasing his first album with Atlantic Records, the self-titled Craig Morgan in 2000. In 2003, Morgan signed with Broken Bow Records and released his second album, I Love It. It featured the single "Almost Home", which broke into the Top 10 and earned Morgan a Songwriter Achievement Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
In 2005, Morgan released his third album, My Kind of Livin', which included the smash hit "That's What I Love About Sunday." A four-week number one hit in the early spring of 2005, it was the biggest country music song of that year according to Billboard. The album also included the #2 hit "Redneck Yacht Club". Also included was "I Got You", which Craig had originally penned for Keith Urban, but decided to cut himself instead. "Little Bit Of Life", the lead-off single and title track of his fourth album, is currently climbing the charts.
Cowboy And Clown
Craig Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was seconds from glory or moments from death
They knew with this bull, it could go either way
He said, "Let her go boys, and pray?
He hung on for eight but he couldn't get loose
That's when a clown they call Crazy came to his rescue
When the dust finally settled, they both walked away
The cowboy and clown, close as two brothers
Chips up or down, they could count on each other
Buckles and beers, winning and losing
Laughter and tears, broken hearts and bruises
They lived for the next final round, the cowboy and clown
From Denver to Dallas, to the Calgary stampede
They took all those towns, and a few in between
But it ended one night, in a West Texas town
The bulls either got faster, or old Crazy slowed down
Five hundred pick-ups, lights on, driving slow
A tent on the hill at the end of the road
When the last bible closed, one cowboy stayed
He said, "Let her go boys, and pray?
The cowboy and clown, close as two brothers
Chips up or down, they could count on each other
Buckles and beers, winning and losing
Laughter and tears, broken hearts and bruises
They lived for the next final round the cowboy and clown
The song "Cowboy and Clown" by Craig Morgan tells the story of a cowboy and a clown who form an unlikely but strong bond through their shared experiences of the rodeo circuit. The first verse sets the stage for the danger and thrill of bull riding, with the potential for both glory and death at any moment. The cowboy rides the bull for eight seconds but can't get loose, putting him in danger until the clown named Crazy comes to his rescue. The two become fast friends, and the chorus describes their close relationship, which contains both good times and tough ones. They travel the circuit together, from Denver to Dallas to the Calgary Stampede, gaining fame and winning championships.
However, the song takes a darker turn in the second verse when the two friends face an inevitable end to their careers. Their final rodeo is in a West Texas town, where the bulls are either getting faster or the clown is slowing down, and they can no longer compete. The last lines of the verse suggest the cowboy chooses to stay behind as the circus moves on, indicating that he may have a deeper connection to the rodeo life than just a job. The chorus repeats, further emphasizing the strong friendship the two men have formed and the memories they've created over the years.
Overall, the song presents a poignant exploration of the relationships built within the rodeo circuit, from the adrenaline-fueled highs to the inevitable lows. It speaks to the power of unlikely friendships and the bonds formed through shared experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
As he climbed in the chute, the crowd held it's breath
Everyone anticipated the cowboy's performance with excitement and nervousness.
He was seconds from glory or moments from death
The outcome could either be a moment of triumph or a moment of tragedy for the cowboy.
They knew with this bull, it could go either way
The bull was known to be unpredictable, and the odds were stacked against the cowboy.
He said, "Let her go boys, and pray?
The cowboy braced himself for the challenge ahead, seeking divine intervention.
He hung on for eight but he couldn't get loose
The cowboy managed to stay on the bull for eight seconds, but could not dismount safely.
That's when a clown they call Crazy came to his rescue
The clown stepped in to distract the bull and ensure the cowboy's safety.
When the dust finally settled, they both walked away
Both the cowboy and the clown emerged unscathed from the dangerous situation.
Yeah, they became best of friends that day
The incident brought the cowboy and the clown closer together, forging a strong bond.
The cowboy and clown, close as two brothers
The relationship between the cowboy and the clown was fraternal and unbreakable.
Chips up or down, they could count on each other
Through the highs and the lows of life, they knew they could rely on each other.
Buckles and beers, winning and losing
They shared the joys of victory and the sorrows of defeat, celebrating and commiserating with each other.
Laughter and tears, broken hearts and bruises
They experienced the full range of emotions together, sharing joy and pain, hope and despair.
They lived for the next final round, the cowboy and clown
Their lives revolved around the rodeo circuit, always striving for the next championship win.
From Denver to Dallas, to the Calgary stampede
Their travels took them across North America, from the United States to Canada.
They took all those towns, and a few in between
They conquered rodeos big and small, earning fame and respect in the process.
But it ended one night, in a West Texas town
Their partnership came to a close in a small town in Texas.
The bulls either got faster, or old Crazy slowed down
Either the bulls became more challenging, or the clown's reflexes became slower with age.
Five hundred pick-ups, lights on, driving slow
The cowboy and clown were honored with a long procession of vehicles driving slowly in tribute to their career.
A tent on the hill at the end of the road
Their final destination was a tent on a hill, signifying the end of their journey together as a duo.
When the last bible closed, one cowboy stayed
When the funeral service ended, one remaining cowboy stayed behind to reflect on his fallen partner.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HARBIN, TRIBBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
brasmom
My son has been riding bulls (junior & senior) since he was 10 years old. He's 20 now and helps run a youth rodeo, working with the younger roughstock kids. He has been saved many times by a bullfighter stepping in his path, or cover his back. Bullfighters are true heroes in my book! The best friend a bullrider can ever have!
cowboycratty
ima bullfighter i absolutely love this song you become great friends with some of the riders and you have to love your job cant be afraid to sacrifice your body to keep your friends safe you have to sacrifice everything you got so that rider can live another day with his friends and family and live another day to do the sport he loves
JOANN SHILLMAN HAUGHT
Thank you for your service, You guys are the greatest! Thank you
Jake Childers
This is not just any song, but a message to all of us. Many of us become closer to strangers when they watch our backs then some we call family. Soldiers don't do and die for God and country, they do and die for the men and women standing up beside them. Rodeo clowns and bullfighters do that for the bull riders.
rebbel123456
to any bullfighter thank you for what you do you keep riders alive and you're really the brave ones at the rodeos, and you don't get the recognition you should but thanks. and an awesome song by Craig Morgan
Benjamin Emrick
Everytime i hear this song i get goosebumps. Im not a cowboy and dont claim to be im just a good ole country boy and i respect these folks for what they do. They put their lives in harms way to protect their friends and strangers.
Stormy Robinson
I love this song! :) I hope I'll have a clown friend like this when I become a Bull Rider!
Mustang Gill
I rode alotta miles and a few years with a fella I'm proud to call my friend "Smurf Horton" He's still one helluva bullfighter n cowboy. Great song!
selena fisher
This song reminds me of my ex-husband. He was a bull-fighter/rodeo clown, and he was very proud of it! Although we grew apart, and didn't get along anymore, this still makes me feel sentimental.... He injured his back at work (not in a rodeo), and will never be able to do it again.... That's sad, because I know how much he loved it.
bcmom5
Awesome song. thank you. Just saw Craig friday night. Nobody was sittin down. Just amazing entertainer and a former U.S. Army Ranger to boot!! thank you