A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done
Sonny & Cher Lyrics

Ride
The song is about a cowboy who used to ride horses, and the word 'Ride' is used as a way of saying, 'let's get into the story.'

I used to jump my horse and ride
The cowboy was skilled at horseback riding, and he used to enjoy jumping his horse while riding it.

I had a six-gun at my side
The cowboy carried a gun for protection or hunting while he was riding his horse.

I was so handsome, women cried
The cowboy was very attractive to women, and some would even cry because of how handsome he was.

And I got shot but I never died
The cowboy was shot at but survived the incident, indicating he may have been involved in dangerous situations.

I could play if I'd do everything he'd say
The cowboy may have had a boss or a leader who he had to please always to retain his employment or status.

Girls seemed to just get in his way
The cowboy had a hard time focusing on his work when women were around or in his life, making things more complicated.

Those days we weren't considered fun
The time period when the cowboy was around wasn't considered to be fun or exciting, indicating perhaps a less liberated or simpler era.

A cowboy's work is never done
The song highlights how difficult cowboy work is and how it's never truly done. It's an ongoing job that requires a lot of hard work and dedication.

He'd fight crime all the time
The cowboy may have had a duty to stop crimes from happening or was involved in law enforcement.

He'd always win
The cowboy was highly skilled and successful in whatever crime fighting or law enforcement battles he was involved in.

Til his mom would break it up and call him in
The cowboy's mother would put an end to his fights and call him inside for the day, indicating perhaps he lived with his mother.

He was tough, he was hard, but he was kind
The cowboy was a tough and hardworking individual but also possessed an element of kindness and compassion.

And he was loved, 'cause guys like him were hard to find
The cowboy was respected and admired by many, as he possessed a unique set of qualities that were hard to come by in others.

I'd like to ride again someday
The cowboy longs to ride horses again, indicating a fondness for that time period in his life.

I think I still know how to play
The cowboy feels confident that he could still ride horses and perform the activities he used to do, despite time having passed.

I play games now but it's not fun
The cowboy currently engages in activities or work that he doesn't find as enjoyable or fulfilling as his former cowboy work.