Lambchop is an American alt-country band from Nashville, Tennessee, the cap… Read Full Bio ↴Lambchop is an American alt-country band from Nashville, Tennessee, the capital of country music. Originally called Posterchild, the band (which formed in 1986) cannot easily be classified into a genre and certainly not into that of traditional country music. The collective around frontman Kurt Wagner has a fluid membership, at times including as many 18 musicians, and is frequently associated with alternative country. Lambchop’s music combines wryly ironic lyrics that are complex in form and content with harmonious tunes and soulful background vocals. It is indebted to folk and country as much as to the smooth soul of Barry White, Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye and can be seen as a fine exemplification of Kris Kristofferson’s famous line: “country music is the white man’s soul”.

Cowboy On The Moon
Lambchop Lyrics

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and i have visions
like scars are in the sky
boiling water is running from your eye
and all our trouble
cannot be gone too soon
a cowboy on the moon
and i am stupid
i clutter up my mind

i'm always sorry
for somebody left behind
and i will write you
when i can find the time
a cowboy on the moon

when i was little
we gathered round the set
remote controls
were not invented yet
an historic moment
and now i have two pets
a cowboy on the moon
the blessed buttons
and the sacred sandwich
a happy hamper
in which to put my clothes
a texas spaceman

and a boy named buzz
a cowboy on the moon

Overall Meaning

The song Cowboy On The Moon by Lambchop has a deep and profound meaning that is open to interpretation. The lyrics evoke a sense of alienation and loneliness, with the image of a cowboy on the moon, which may symbolize a feeling of being an outsider or misunderstood. The opening lines of the song, "and I have visions like scars are in the sky, boiling water is running from your eye" suggest an apocalyptic and surreal atmosphere. It is unclear what "boiling water running from your eye" means, but it could be interpreted as tears or a sign of intense emotion.

The singer of the song describes himself as "stupid" and always "sorry" for leaving someone behind, indicating that he feels the weight of responsibility for past actions. He promises to write a letter to someone, but only when he has time, which shows a sense of procrastination or reluctance to confront his emotions. The reference to a cowboy on the moon is repeated throughout the song and may symbolize a desire for escapism or a longing for something unattainable.

Overall, Cowboy On The Moon is a haunting and thought-provoking song that delves into the complexities of human emotion and the quest for meaning and purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

and i have visions
I have recurring images or ideas that I can see clearly in my mind

like scars are in the sky
The visions I have are deeply ingrained and visible, like scars that leave a mark on the sky

boiling water is running from your eye
You are crying in a way that is intense and continuous, like water that has reached its boiling point and can't be contained

and all our trouble
All of the problems we face

cannot be gone too soon
We can't get rid of our troubles too quickly or easily

a cowboy on the moon
An imagined figure who is alone and isolated in a remote, unattainable place

and i am stupid
I feel foolish or inadequate

i clutter up my mind
I often have too many thoughts and ideas in my head at once

i'm always sorry
I often feel regret or remorse

for somebody left behind
I feel guilty for leaving someone or something behind in pursuit of something else

and i will write you
I promise to communicate with you

when i can find the time
I'll get in touch with you when I have a moment to spare

when i was little
When I was a child

we gathered round the set
We would all sit together and watch TV

remote controls
Devices that were not yet invented for changing channels or controlling a TV from a distance