Cowgirl in the Sand
LIVING ROOM - Neil Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this place at your command?
Can I stay here for a while?
Can I see your sweet, sweet smile?
Old enough now to change your name
When so many love you is it the same?
It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game
Hello, ruby in the dust (hello, ruby in the dust)
Has your band begun to rust?
After all the sin we've had
I was hopin' that we'd turn bad
Old enough now, to change your name
When so many love you is it the same?
It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game
Hello, woman of my dreams (hello, woman of my dreams)
Is this not the way it seems?
Purple words on a gray background
To be a woman and to be turned down
Old enough now to change your name
When so many love you is it the same?
It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game
The lyrics to Neil Young's song, "Cowgirl in the Sand," can be interpreted in a few ways. On one level, the song seems to be about a man's attraction to three different women: a cowgirl, a woman named Ruby, and a woman of his dreams. He's asking each woman if he can stay with her for a while, if she's still desirable after all the "sin" they've experienced, and if changing her name would make a difference in how she's perceived. But on a deeper level, the song might be commenting on the men's illusions of freedom and control. Each woman is described in a different way as if she's the impetus for his needs or wants, whether through her sexuality or her status as an object of desire. He's asking for her permission to stay because he's a visitor in her world, making it clear he's vulnerable and possibly at her mercy. The idea is that the women are the ones in power and the men are the ones left longing for something.
Another interpretation suggests that these three women aren’t actually women at all, but are instead different guitars that Young is playing, each with their own unique sound and playing style. The references to the cowgirl, ruby, and woman of his dreams may just be metaphors for each guitar, and the song instead might be a commentary on Young's love of music and how it's a game he loves to play.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, cowgirl in the sand
Neil Young greets the cowgirl in the sand, who seems to be the one in control of the environment around them.
Is this place at your command?
Neil Young politely inquires if he can stay in the cowgirl's place for some time.
Can I stay here for a while?
Neil Young requests for a brief stay in the cowgirl's place.
Can I see your sweet, sweet smile?
Neil Young expresses his interest in wanting to see the cowgirl's lovely smile.
Old enough now to change your name
The cowgirl has reached an age where she can alter her identity.
When so many love you is it the same?
Neil Young acknowledges that many people admire the cowgirl, but wonders if it's a comparable experience for her.
It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game
Neil Young suggests that the cowgirl's femininity is the driving force behind her playful and adventurous nature.
Hello, ruby in the dust
Neil Young greets a woman, symbolized here by a ruby, that seems to be lost or forgotten in the midst of dust and chaos.
Has your band begun to rust?
Neil Young asks if the woman's music career has fallen into disuse or disrepair.
After all the sin we've had
Neil Young contemplates the various temptations and immoral actions he may have engaged in with the woman in question.
I was hopin' that we'd turn bad
Neil Young suggests that he intended to continue pursuing a rebellious, possibly illicit relationship with the woman.
Hello, woman of my dreams
Neil Young addresses a woman that he's been yearning for in his thoughts and fantasies.
Is this not the way it seems?
Neil Young questions if the reality of finally having the woman of his dreams is not as idealistic as he hoped for.
Purple words on a gray background
Neil Young expresses a melancholic or conflicted mood, symbolized by the image of purple words on a gray background.
To be a woman and to be turned down
Neil Young reflects on the challenges and disappointments that women may face when pursuing romantic relationships.
Old enough now to change your name
The woman referenced here has matured to an age where she can legally change her name.
When so many love you is it the same?
Neil Young wonders if, despite being adored by many, the woman he desires feels truly loved and valued.
It's the woman in you that makes you want to play this game
Neil Young reiterates his belief that the woman's femininity and sense of adventure motivate her disposition towards 'playing games'.
Lyrics © Broken Arrow Music, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind