After taking a brief recording hiatus in the mid-1990s to start a family with her husband, songwriter Doug Crider, Bogguss returned to the country music scene to find that her charting power had already faded. Although she last appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1999, Bogguss continues to record and perform around the country to a loyal following.
Her most recent recordings have ventured into swing and jazz variations of country. These albums really showcase the tremendous talent in her voice. Suzy is a true singer, and her voice has so much versatility.
In 2014, Suzy added an album of Merle Haggard songs entitled "Lucky". The country & western flavor dominates this album, unlike some of her other recent work. To promote this new album, Suzy has embarked on a nationwide tour.
I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart
Suzy Bogguss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to learn to rope and to ride
I want to ride o'er the plains and the deserts
Out west of that great divide
I want to hear the coyotes howlin'
While the sun sinks in the West
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
That's the life I love the best
(Yodeling)
I want to ride Old Paint goin' at a run
I want to feel the wind in my face
A thousand miles from all the city lights
Goin' a cowhand's pace
I want to pillow my head near the sleeping herd
While the moon shines down from above
I want to strum my guitar and yodelay-hee-hoo
Oh that's the life that I love
(Yodeling)
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
I want to learn to rope and to ride
I want to ride o'er the plains and the deserts
Out west of that great divide
I want to hear the coyotes howlin'
While the sun sinks in the West
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
That's the life I love the best
(Yodeling)
Suzy Bogguss's song "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" is a ballad expressing Bogguss's longing to leave behind the urban setting of the city and revel in the carefree, adventurous life of a cowboy's sweetheart. She yearns for a life on horseback, where she can gallop across plains and deserts, learn to rope, and hear the howling of coyotes while watching the sunsets over the western horizon. The song portrays a vision of cowboy life that is not only a thrilling and challenging lifestyle, but also one that is romantic and full of wonder. Through her longing, Bogguss conjures up a nostalgic image of the American west as a place of legendary heroes and frontier spirit.
The yodeling in the song is a quintessentially American musical style that has its roots in traditional European folk music. It is a technique that is used to express joy, sorrow, and a range of other emotions, often with the yodeler's voice reaching high and low notes in rapid succession. The use of yodeling in "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" is a nod to the cowboy music tradition, which was popularized in the early 20th century by singers such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
I yearn to be the love of a cowboy and live my life on the frontier.
I want to learn to rope and to ride
I desire to master the skills of lassoing and horseback riding.
I want to ride o'er the plains and the deserts
I long to traverse wide open spaces and arid land on horseback.
Out west of that great divide
I seek to explore the untamed and rugged land beyond the Mississippi River.
I want to hear the coyotes howlin'
I crave the experience of listening to the wild canines sing under the starry night sky.
While the sun sinks in the West
As the sun sets on the horizon, I want to appreciate the beauty of the Western landscape.
That's the life I love the best
In life, nothing brings me more joy than living as a cowgirl on a ranch.
I want to ride Old Paint goin' at a run
I want to gallop on a nimble steed named Old Paint at top speeds.
I want to feel the wind in my face
I yearn to feel the rush of fresh air against my skin while at full gallop.
A thousand miles from all the city lights
I want to ride far away from any urban settlement, away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
Goin' a cowhand's pace
I want to ride at the pace of a seasoned cowboy, free from the demands of a busy schedule.
I want to pillow my head near the sleeping herd
At night, I want to rest my head near the animals I've spent my days tending.
While the moon shines down from above
I'll lay beneath the stars, illuminated by the bright light of the moon above me.
I want to strum my guitar and yodelay-hee-hoo
Musical talent has always been part of the cowboy culture, and at the end of each day, I would love to strum my guitar and sing traditional cowboy tunes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Patsy Montana
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karolinemariee
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
I want to learn to rope and to ride
I want to ride o'er the plains and the desert
Out west of the great divide
I want to hear the coyotes howlin'
While the sun sets in the West
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
That's the life that I love best
I want to ride Old Paint, goin' at a run
I wanna feel the wind in my face
A thousand miles from all the city lights
Goin' cowhand's pace
I want to pillow my head near the sleeping herd
While the moon shines down from above
I want to strum my guitar and odo-lay-eee-hee
Oh, that's the life that I love
I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart
I want to learn to rope and to ride
I want to ride o'er the plains and the desert
Out west of the great divide
I want to hear the coyotes howlin'
While the sun sets in the West
I wanna be a cowboy's sweetheart
That's the life that I love best
Songwriters: Patsy Montana
@ztahs
Sigh, why can't country music sound like this anymore? Suzy is one of the all-time greats.
@63051
Exactly but sad to see the state of "country music " today. It is no longer country but rock and at times hard rock which you can't even follow, tap your feet and sing along; let alone dance to.
@tracylemme1375
The money got in the way.
@revelationdetailers894
Because those millennials ruined everything!
@mhugheslee
I totally agree!
@jimcarter6669
There is even RAP in so called country. I keep a sick bag by the radio just in case I can't switch channels fast enough.
This lady is gorgeous and sings beautifully. She always lands on the note. Pitch perfect.
@joevalentin2450
You're an all-time great Suzy. The chance to see someone genuinely country in the likes of you is forever lost in today's brand of country music.
@jeffambrose2307
If you've never had a crush on Suzy raise your hand........anyone??. That's what I thought.
@dougnolen9237
Not until now
@noonoo6079
Sure do…🇬🇧