Rocky
Fred Eaglesmith Lyrics


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Rocky, I'm writing you this letter
I'm in the Sunset Home
My grandkids went and put me here
They got everything I own
I know you're out in Albuquerque
I saw Freddie just last week
He said your eyesight's failing you
And your mouth's too sore to speak
Rocky, I've been thinking lately
How we never got along
How mostly I was right
And sometimes I was wrong
Remember that horse we bought in Tulsa
It was afraid of the startin' gun
You'd fill his ears full of cotton
And all the money that we won
Rocky, you sure were a good cowboy
You did sure could rope and ride
I always told you not to chew that goddamned tobacco
You coulda listened just one time
They don't show many Westerns on TV here
They took away my gun
But I still got that Western saddle
The one we stole from Freddie's son
Rocky, I hear that they're feeding you
And it sure do make me sad
I never thought in all my days
You'd ever end up like that
Remember that trailer in Minnesota
That axle broke right in two
We wired it together with four-by-fours
And we drove the whole night through
Rocky, you sure were a good cowboy
You did sure could rope and ride
I always told you not to chew that goddamned tobacco
You coulda listened just one time
So, Rocky, I'll just sign off now
I've been up most of the night
I just wanted to tell you when I heard the news
It damned near made me cry
Remember that gun we bought in Reno
You shot Freddie right through the hand
You wrapped it up in your best Western shirt
Gave him all the money you had
Rocky, you sure were a good cowboy
You did sure could rope and ride
I always told you not to chew that goddamned tobacco




You coulda listened just one time
You coulda listened just one time

Overall Meaning

In Fred Eaglesmith's song "Rocky," the singer is writing a letter to his old cowboy friend, Rocky. He tells Rocky that he is now in the Sunset Home because his grandkids put him there and took everything he owns. He also heard that Rocky's eyesight is failing him and his mouth is too sore to speak. The singer reflects on their past and how they never quite got along, with him thinking he was mostly right but sometimes wrong. He then reminisces about their experiences together, including buying a horse afraid of the starting gun, wiring a broken trailer together, and buying a gun in Reno that was used to shoot their mutual friend Freddie through the hand. The singer ends the letter by expressing his sadness upon hearing about Rocky's current situation.


The song reflects on the realities of aging and friendship. The singer has some regrets about his relationship with Rocky but also acknowledges that they had some good times together. He also seems to have a sense of his own mortality, given that he is now living in a retirement home. The lyrics also touch on the cowboy lifestyle, with references to rodeos, Western movies, and chewing tobacco. Overall, the song has a nostalgic, wistful tone.


Line by Line Meaning

Rocky, I'm writing you this letter
I am currently in a senior home, writing this letter to you, Rocky


I'm in the Sunset Home
I am residing in a senior home


My grandkids went and put me here
My grandchildren took the decision to put me here


They got everything I own
My grandchildren have taken all of my possessions


I know you're out in Albuquerque
I heard you are residing in Albuquerque


I saw Freddie just last week
I met Freddie just recently


He said your eyesight's failing you
Freddie mentioned that your vision is getting poorer


And your mouth's too sore to speak
You are having difficulty in speaking due to discomfort in your mouth


Rocky, I've been thinking lately
Lately, I have been contemplating about our past


How we never got along
We never seemed to get along


How mostly I was right
Most of the time, I was correct


And sometimes I was wrong
However, there were instances when I made mistakes


Remember that horse we bought in Tulsa
Do you remember the horse we purchased in Tulsa?


It was afraid of the startin' gun
The horse was fearful of the starting gun


You'd fill his ears full of cotton
You used to plug his ears with cotton


And all the money that we won
We won a considerable amount of money with that horse


Rocky, you sure were a good cowboy
You were an exceptional cowboy, Rocky


You did sure could rope and ride
You had remarkable skills in roping and riding


I always told you not to chew that goddamned tobacco
I would often advise you to refrain from chewing tobacco


You coulda listened just one time
If only you had listened to my advice


They don't show many Westerns on TV here
Western movies are scarcely shown on television here


They took away my gun
The management confiscated my firearm


But I still got that Western saddle
However, I still have the Western saddle we took from Freddie's son


The one we stole from Freddie's son
The one that we took without permission from Freddie's son


Rocky, I hear that they're feeding you
I heard that you are being taken care of where you are residing


And it sure do make me sad
It makes me feel melancholic thinking about it


I never thought in all my days
I never imagined that this would happen


You'd ever end up like that
You, Rocky, would end up in such a situation


Remember that trailer in Minnesota
Do you recollect the trailer incident that happened in Minnesota?


That axle broke right in two
The axle of the trailer broke into two pieces


We wired it together with four-by-fours
We joined it using four-by-fours


And we drove the whole night through
We drove throughout the night after fixing it


So, Rocky, I'll just sign off now
Therefore, I am concluding my letter, Rocky


I've been up most of the night
I stayed up late into the night writing this letter


I just wanted to tell you when I heard the news
I felt compelled to inform you when I got the news


It damned near made me cry
It almost made me break down in tears


Remember that gun we bought in Reno
Do you remember the firearm we purchased in Reno?


You shot Freddie right through the hand
You fired the gun and hit Freddie's hand


You wrapped it up in your best Western shirt
You used your finest Western shirt to dress Freddie's wound


Gave him all the money you had
You compensated Freddie with all the money you had


You coulda listened just one time
If only you had just listened to my advice once




Contributed by Matthew I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Tim Duffin


on John Deere B

"The original B" s/b "The original paint"
"Then I saw I saw the mirror" s/b "Then I saw them narrow"

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