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.
Walk Through The Bottomland
Lyle Lovett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she was a lady I say
But she met a cowboy who rode on the rodeo
And he stole her heart straight away
The New Jersey lady she loved him so true
Another love she never had
But cowboys are lonesome and cowboys are blue
Sing me a melody
Sing me a blues
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
The Brazos she's running scared
She heard the news
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
The New Jersey lady knew he loved her too
And you know she tried to hold on
But the rodeo life was the life that he knew
He had to keep drifting along
She never married and she never would
And all of the people they'd say
The New Jersey lady she just ain't no good
To follow a cowboy that way
Sing me a melody
Sing me a blues
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
The Brazos she's running scared
She heard the news
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
The lady she'd sing him to sleep in the night
And then in the morning he'd go
She loved the darkness and hated the light
Along with that damn rodeo
The New Jersey lady the day that he died
She covered him over with clay
And feeling the wind in the night as she cried
She heard the old cowboy say
Sing me a melody
Sing me a blues
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
The Brazos she's running scared
She heard the news
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
Sing me a melody
Sing me a blues
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
The Brazos she's running scared
She heard the news
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
Won't you walk through the bottomland without no shoes?
The song "Walk Through The Bottomland" by Lyle Lovett tells the story of a New Jersey lady who falls in love with a cowboy who rides on the rodeo. The lyrics describe how the couple's love was true, but the cowboy's lonesome life prevented him from settling down. The woman tried to hold on, but ultimately could not keep up with the cowboy's constant drifting from one rodeo to another. Despite that, the love between the two remained intact, and the lady continued to sing him to sleep at night.
The chorus of the song is a request to sing a melody and blues and to walk through the bottomland without any shoes. The Brazos, a Texas river, is mentioned in the song, and it is described as running scared after hearing the news of the cowboy's death. The song ends with an invitation from the cowboy to walk through the bottomland barefoot, a metaphor for the raw, stripped-down nature of their love.
The song is a poignant reminder of the universal theme of love and loss. It speaks to the longing for connection, the heartbreak of separation, and the reality of impermanence. The cowboy's desire to keep drifting echoes the human need to explore and experience life fully, even if it means leaving behind what one loves.
Line by Line Meaning
A New Jersey lady I knew long ago
I once knew a lady from New Jersey
And she was a lady I say
She was truly a lady
But she met a cowboy who rode on the rodeo
But she met a cowboy who participated in rodeos
And he stole her heart straight away
And he immediately captured her heart
The New Jersey lady she loved him so true
The lady from New Jersey loved him deeply and sincerely
Another love she never had
She had never loved anyone else before
But cowboys are lonesome and cowboys are blue
But cowboys are often lonely and melancholy
And they make the ladies so sad
And they often leave their female partners feeling sad
Sing me a melody
Sing me a tune
Sing me a blues
Sing me a sad song
Walk through the bottomland without no shoes
Take a walk through the low-lying region without any footwear.
The Brazos she's running scared
The river Brazos is flowing frantically
She heard the news
It heard some terrible news.
The New Jersey lady knew he loved her too
The lady from New Jersey was aware that he loved her too.
And you know she tried to hold on
And she tried her best to hold on to the relationship.
But the rodeo life was the life that he knew
However, he was so accustomed to the rodeo lifestyle.
He had to keep drifting along
He had to continue moving and traveling
She never married and she never would
The lady from New Jersey never got married and didn't want to
And all of the people they'd say
And everyone would say
The New Jersey lady she just ain't no good
The New Jersey lady was judged by others as being no good
To follow a cowboy that way
For chasing after a cowboy like that.
The lady she'd sing him to sleep in the night
The lady used to sing the cowboy to sleep at night.
And then in the morning he'd go
But then he would leave in the morning
She loved the darkness and hated the light
She preferred darkness over light
Along with that damn rodeo
And also, along with the rodeo that took him away.
The New Jersey lady the day that he died
The lady from New Jersey on the day he passed
She covered him over with clay
She buried him in the ground
And feeling the wind in the night as she cried
Feeling the night wind as she mourned and grieved
She heard the old cowboy say
She heard the cowboy's voice saying
Won't you walk through the bottomland without no shoes?
Would you walk through the low-lying region barefoot?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LYLE PEARCE LOVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrJommins
Whenever I hear a Lyle Lovett song for the first time it becomes my favorite. Emmylou is a dream come true for me. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman. Whenever I hear her name, hear her voice or simply see her picture I always get a little depressed knowing that I’ll never meet her.
Reg McCormack
Emmy Lou really makes this song, and I love it.
Mahthah
The first time I heard this it had me in tears. I felt as though I'd been right there alongside the New Jersey Lady and her cowboy......Thank you so much, Mr. Lovett, for so much great, great music.
Kenneth Running
Emmylou is an American or world treasure. Her voice, her beauty is all natural. If her hair greys she goes with the flow. She's loved by all her peers. Lyle is such a gentleman and great singer.
alphie20
Every now and then when I hear this song I get tingles down my spine and get all teary eyed. Really a terrific song. Thanks Lyle and Emmylou!
karinablacktie
Two class acts together.
valverdista
This is one of the best country songs ever, every time i listen it makes me feel sad and lonely, especially when Emmylou join Lyle with is unique and singular voice, amazing.
dubonnais
love this man! The most amazing song writer and artist!
Terrance Harrington
Pontaic is a great album but I've always loved this song the most on it. Love how all my favourite artists : Guy Clark(rip) , Willie Nelson, Mark Knopfler , Lyle Lovett ,Neil Young had/have the same great taste in accompanying vocal artist - the great Emmylou Harris .
Roger Kuck
Beautiful song.Love those glances he keeps giving her!