Their biggest commercial and critical success came with 1990's Jordan: The Comeback (one of two albums produced by Thomas Dolby), which was a hit in the UK and nominated for a BRIT award. The band also had a UK Top 10 hit with their 1988 song The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Perhaps their finest album, Steve McQueen (originally released in June 1985) was re-released in August 2007 as a 2-CD deluxe edition, with a bonus disc of eight acoustic reinterpretations of some of the original tracks. Of the release, the record company said: "Digitally remastered by original producer Thomas Dolby, the album is sounding even better than ever. As if that weren't enough it is complemented here with a second disc containing eight sublime acoustic versions, which have been specially re-recorded for this release by Paddy McAloon."
Steve McQueen was released in the US under the title Two Wheels Good following pressure from the late actor's estate.
Prefab Sprout released Let's Change the World With Music - The Blueprint in 2009 on the Kitchenware Records label (website). See also Sprout Trivia below.
Discography:
Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) / Radio Love - Feb 25, 1982 (their first record, released on their own label Candle)
The Devil Has All the Best Tunes / Walk On - Oct 1983 (Kitchenware) (feat. Wendy Smith and Fiona Attwood)
Swoon - Mar 1984
Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (US) - Jun 1985
From Langley Park to Memphis - Mar 1988
Protest Songs - Jun 1989
Jordan: The Comeback - Aug 1990
The Best of Prefab Sprout: A Life of Surprises - Jul 1992 (compilation; exit Conti hereafter)
Andromeda Heights - May 1997
38 Carat Collection (disc 1) - Oct 1999 (compilation)
38 Carat Collection (disc 2) - Oct 1999 (compilation)
The Gunman And Other Stories - Jun 18, 2001 (sans Smith)
Chronology of Bandmembers:
Paddy McAloon (born Patrick Joseph McAloon, Jun 7, 1957, Durham); vocals / guitars / keyboards
Martin McAloon (born Jan 4, 1962, Durham); bass guitar
Michael Salmon; drums / percussion
Wendy Smith (born May 31, 1963, Middlesbrough); vocals / guitars / keyboards
Neil Conti (born Feb 12, 1959, Luton); drums / percussion
Fiona Attwood (Chester-le-Street); backing vocals
Sprout Trivia:
Paddy conceived the name "Prefab Sprout" when he was just 14 back in 1972, he revealed in an interview with French magazine BEST. It was his attempt at creating an unusual name like groups that were popular at the time (eg Tyrannosaurus Rex, Moby Grape, Grand Funk Railroad, etc.).
The band has had as many as 11 drummers (including Paddy McAloon himself on programmed percussion!) in its lineup. Of these, Conti was the most closely identified with the group. (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sproutfacts.html)
Paddy had apparently conceived of an album named Let's Change The World With Music (the working title of the band's forthcoming album, due February 2009) as far back as the early 1990's:
"I actually wrote a Gulf War album called Let's Change The World With Music, and I've got a couple of beauties, but there are right and wrong times to do things, and it came after another album I wrote which is much lighter... it's called Billy Midnight, very romantic. So the Gulf War album was a more serious response to that. I keep junking things all the time." - NME June 20, 1992 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
"And I have an album called Let's Change The World With Music; lots of songs about music, playing on that horrible thing where you listen to a song like "We Are The World" and the sentiment is great but it's such a cliché that it sticks in your throat. It plays on that edge between that kind of thing and real sincerity." - NME April 15, 1995 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
"Look, since 1990 I've written what I think of as my best music. You can hear some of it on Andromeda Heights. But I have also - in detailed demo form - an album called Let's Change The World With Music. It was written as the follow up to Jordan." - BEST magazine (France) July 1997 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
Cowboy Dreams
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Love's a silver bullet
That blows your world apart
I wanna be remembered as an outlaw
The boy who stole your heart
I wanna be the guy who wears the white hat
Then rides across the plain
I'm gonna be your enigmatic stranger
Honey you are lookin' at your Shane
Cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
If ever you're in trouble
If ever you are down
I'm gonna be the hangin' judge and sheriff
Gonna ride your troubles out of town
You're lookin' at a mountain
You're lookin' at the law
You're lookin at a six gun legend
Fastest on the draw
Cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Yippi ay yay
I can make you happy
It's easier than it seems
I'm gonna ambush you at sundown
I'm gonna give you cowboys dreams
Cowboy dreams
Yippi ay yay
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Yippi ay oh
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Yippi ay yay
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Love's a silver bullet
That blows your world apart
I wanna have it written on my tombstone
Here lies the boy who stole your heart
The song "Cowboy Dreams" by Prefab Sprout tells a story of a man who wants to be remembered as an outlaw, the boy who steals the heart of the woman he loves. He compares love to a silver bullet that blows one's world apart. He wants to be the guy who wears the white hat, the enigmatic stranger that rides across the plain, and the hangin' judge and sheriff who can ride the woman's troubles out of town. He wants to give her cowboy dreams, make her happy, and be remembered as the boy who stole her heart. The song is a mix of country and pop music that evokes a wild western vibe.
Line by Line Meaning
Cowboy dreams
The desire to live and love like a cowboy
Cowboy dreams
The yearning for adventure and romance found in a cowboy's life
You give me cowboy dreams
The feeling of being inspired and swept away by one's partner
Love's a silver bullet
Love is a powerful force that can both heal and hurt
That blows your world apart
It can drastically change one's life for better or worse
I wanna be remembered as an outlaw
Looking to defy norms and create a legacy
The boy who stole your heart
The one who captured your affections and devotion
I wanna be the guy who wears the white hat
The desire to be a hero and do the right thing
Then rides across the plain
Going on a journey to find adventure and purpose
I'm gonna be your enigmatic stranger
Becoming someone intriguing that is hard to fully understand
Honey you are lookin' at your Shane
Being the charismatic and mysterious hero like Shane from the classic Western film
If ever you're in trouble
Being there to support and protect one's partner
If ever you are down
Supporting and lifting one up during emotional lows
I'm gonna be the hangin' judge and sheriff
Taking control and fixing problems with authority
Gonna ride your troubles out of town
Escaping difficulties and stress through adventure and fun
You're lookin' at a mountain
Facing big challenges and obstacles
You're lookin' at the law
Being held back and restrained by society's rules
You're lookin at a six gun legend
Being viewed as a skilled and legendary gunfighter
Fastest on the draw
Being quick to act and take control of situations
I can make you happy
The ability and desire to bring joy and happiness to a partner's life
It's easier than it seems
The belief that creating happiness for a partner is not as challenging as one might think
I'm gonna ambush you at sundown
Surprising and delighting one's partner
Yippi ay yay
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement
Here lies the boy who stole your heart
Wanting to be remembered as someone who made a lasting and meaningful impact on their partner's life
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Bringing adventure, passion, and romance to a partner's life
Yippi ay oh
Continuing to express enthusiasm and excitement
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
keithachrist
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Love's a silver bullet
That blows your world apart
I wanna be remembered as an outlaw
The boy who stole your heart
I wanna be the guy who wears the white hat
Then rides across the plain
I'm gonna be your enigmatic stranger
Honey, you are looking at your Shane
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, you give me cowboy dreams
If ever you're in trouble,
If ever you are down
I'm gonna be the hanging judge and sheriff
I'm gonna ride your troubles out of town
You're looking at a mountain,
You're looking at the law
You're looking at a six-gun legend
Fastest on the draw
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, you give me cowboy dreams
Yippi-ay-a, ooooh
I can make you happy
It's easier than it seems
I'm gonna ambush at sundown
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, yippi-ay-a
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Yiipi-ay-o
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams, yee-ha!
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Yippi-ay-a, I'm gonna give you cowboy dreams
Love's a silver bullet
That blows your world apart
I wanna have it written on my tombstone:
"Here lies the boy who stole your heart."
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
Source: Musixmatch
Patrick Stocks
Yippi ay yeah
Loves a silver bullet that blows your world apart
I wanna be remembered as an outlaw, honey 🍯
The boy who stole your heart ❤️
I wanna be the guy who wares the white hat 🧢
And rides across the plain
I’m gonna be your enigmatic stranger, honey 🍯
You’re looking at your Shane
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
If ever you’re in trouble 👿 if ever you are down
I’m gonna be the hanging judge and sheriff
Gonna ride your troubles out of town
You’re looking at a mountain 🏔
You’re looking at the law
You’re looking at a 6 gun legend-fastest on the draw
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
Cowboy dreams, cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
I can make you happy 😃 it’s easier than it seems
I’m gonna ambush you at sundown
Gonna give you cowboy dreams
Yippi ay yeah
I’m gonna give you cowboy dreams
Loves a silver bullet that blows your world apart
I wanna have it written on my tombstone
Here lies the boy who stole your heart ❤️
Yippi ay yeah
Cowboy dreams
You give me cowboy dreams
AsBreakfast
when i was little, my father and i used to sing this song together! ( we still do sometimes) and i always dreamed about my cowboy dreams, haha! always crying when i listen to this. it will always be special to me and my father! thankyou
crozwayne
thats a lovely memory x
Stirling McIntosh
Dickhead. What a crap thing to say. You have no feelings or memories. Are you on murderer's row? Should be !!
A Grill Has No Name
awww daddy's little precious princess
Gabby Mags
One of the greatest bands of all time
Pat Smith
GREAT BAND DON'T MAKE MUSIC LIKE THAT TODAY 💙💙💙
Terry Eggett
It's criminal that Paddys incredible songwriting talents aren't more appreciated. I' m sure one day they will be.
Tom Spineless
Prefab Sprout always will have a place among the best and sweetest music for me. I love all their albums me
Terry Eggett
Don't worry Paddy your brilliant talent hasn't gone unnoticed.
fritshits65
most magical band ever....PERIOD!!!