Lyle Lovett is an americana singer-songwriter and actor from Klein, Texas, … Read Full Bio ↴Lyle Lovett is an americana singer-songwriter and actor from Klein, Texas, who has been described as "the thinking man's cowboy". While typically associated with the alt-country genre, his albums typically incorporate folk, swing, blues, jazz and gospel music as well as more traditional country & western styles. The Night's Lullaby Songfacts reports that after twenty-six years with Curb, Lyle Lovett released his eleventh and last album for the record label, Release Me, on February 28, 2012. The record is mainly made up of covers that Lovett has played, but never got round to recording.

The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.

Sold American
Lyle Lovett Lyrics

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Faded jaded falling cowboy star
Pawnshops itching for your old guitar
Where you're going, God only knows
The sequins have fallen from your clothes
Once you heard the Opry crowd applaud
Now you're hanging out at Fourth and Broad
On the rain wet sidewalk remembering the time
When coffee with a friend was still a dime

And everything's been sold American
The early Times is finished and the want ads all are read
Everyone's been sold American
In dreaming dreams in a roll away bed

Writing down your memoirs on some window in the frost
Roulette eyes reflecting another morning lost
Hauled in by the metro for killing time and pain
With a singing brakeman screaming through your veins

And everything's been sold American
The lonely night is mourning for the death it never dies
Everyone's been sold American
Don't let me catch you laughing when the jukebox cries

You told me you were born so much higher than life
But I've seen the faded pictures of your children and your wife
Now they're fumbling through your wallet and they're trying to find your name
It's almost like they raise the price of fame

And everything's been sold American
No place to go and brother, no place to stay

Everyone's been sold American
Just let that golden Greyhound roll your soul away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lyle Lovett's "Sold American" describe the downfall of a fading cowboy star, whose glory days of performing at the Opry are long gone. The singer describes the star as "faded" and "jaded" while painting a picture of his current state: wandering the streets, trying to pawn off his old guitar, and reminiscing about a time when coffee cost just a dime. The star is lonely and lost, with nothing to cling to but the memories of his former success. The chorus, "And everything's been sold American," refers to the idea that success in America is fleeting and comes at a price.

The second verse adds to the star's desperation. Lovett's lyrics paint a picture of a man writing "memoirs" on a frosty window, his eyes filled with regret and loss. He's been arrested for "killing time and pain" and is haunted by the sound of a "singing brakeman." The chorus repeats once again, suggesting that everyone in America has been sold a false bill of goods, with nowhere to go and nothing to do but let the bus carry them away.

The song's lyrics may be a commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and success in America. It paints a picture of a man who has lost everything he once held dear—his talent, his audience, and ultimately, himself. The imagery of the song is evocative and poignant, capturing the heartbreak of a dream gone sour.

Line by Line Meaning

Faded jaded falling cowboy star
The singer is describing a cowboy star who is now old and has lost his fame.

Pawnshops itching for your old guitar
The cowboy star has become financially unstable and has resorted to selling his old guitar to pawnshops.

Where you're going, God only knows
It is unclear what the future holds for the cowboy star.

The sequins have fallen from your clothes
The cowboy star's costume and glamour have faded away with time and aging.

Once you heard the Opry crowd applaud
The cowboy star used to perform at the Opry and received applause from the audience.

Now you're hanging out at Fourth and Broad
The cowboy star now spends his time in a less glamorous location, Fourth and Broad Street.

On the rain wet sidewalk remembering the time
The cowboy star reminisces about his past on a wet sidewalk.

When coffee with a friend was still a dime
The cowboy star remembers the times when coffee was much cheaper and he could afford to have some with his friend.

And everything's been sold American
The cowboy star feels as if everything he had, including his fame, has been sold out for American capitalism and profit.

The early Times is finished and the want ads all are read
The cowboy star's era has ended, and he no longer finds opportunities in the want ads.

Everyone's been sold American
The singer is suggesting that everyone in America has been affected by the capitalistic system, including the cowboy star.

In dreaming dreams in a roll away bed
The cowboy star is now homeless and sleeps on a rollaway bed, dreaming of better times.

Writing down your memoirs on some window in the frost
The cowboy star writes his memoirs on a frosty window, reminiscing about his past.

Roulette eyes reflecting another morning lost
The cowboy star's eyes reflect his lost dreams and opportunities.

Hauled in by the metro for killing time and pain
The cowboy star is arrested by the metro for loitering, out of boredom and pain.

With a singing brakeman screaming through your veins
The cowboy star is reminded of his past and his passion for music which still runs through his veins.

The lonely night is mourning for the death it never dies
The night is personified as mourning for the cowboy star's lost potential and unfulfilled dreams.

Don't let me catch you laughing when the jukebox cries
The singer does not want anyone laughing when the cowboy star is feeling nostalgic while listening to a sad song at the jukebox.

You told me you were born so much higher than life
The cowboy star once thought of himself as being born to a higher standard of living and achievements.

But I've seen the faded pictures of your children and your wife
The artist has seen the old pictures of the cowboy star with his family, who now age and fade as much as his fortune and fame.

Now they're fumbling through your wallet and they're trying to find your name
The cowboy star's family is now rummaging through his wallet, seeking for his identification to reunite with him.

It's almost like they raise the price of fame
The artist suggests that the price of fame and fortune is to lose everything else, including family and friends.

No place to go and brother, no place to stay
The cowboy star has nowhere to go or stay, hence, the sense of rootlessness and despair.

Just let that golden Greyhound roll your soul away
The artist encourages the cowboy star to leave his past behind and embark on a new journey rolled away by the Greyhound bus.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GLENN MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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