Don
Sydney Devine Lyrics


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Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in

Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle on
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
To many words, gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in

Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Don't fence me in

Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever but I ask you please
Don't fence me in

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle on
Underneath the western skies
On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Till I see the mountains rise

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
Gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in

No, Papa, don't you fence me in

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Fence Me In" by Sydney Devine is an ode to the freedom and beauty of the wide open spaces of the American West. The lyrics express a longing to be free of restraint and confinement, to roam and explore the vast expanse of the land and sky. The repeated refrain of "Don't fence me in" is a plea to remain unencumbered by the limitations of fences and boundaries, both physical and metaphorical.


The first verse describes the desire for the starry skies and open land, and the second verse focuses on the desire for solitude and the sounds of nature. The final verse expresses the desire to ride to the horizon and beyond, to see the mountains rise and lose oneself in the beauty of the night sky. The song is both a celebration of the beauty of the American West and a lament for the limitations placed on human freedom and exploration.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above
I desire a significant expanse of land with the starry skies as the scenic background


Don't fence me in
Please do not restrict me within a confined perimeter


Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Allow me to traverse through the vast open areas that hold my affection


Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
I wish to enjoy solitude amidst the gentle evening winds


And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
While being aloof, I want to hear the sound of the whispering cottonwood trees


Send me off forever but I ask you please
Even if I depart from this place forever, I request you not to impose any boundaries


Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle on
Free me, so that I can hop on my traditional saddle


Underneath the western skies
Beneath the majestic Western sky


On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
With my horse as my travel companion, let me wander around the area


Till I see the mountains rise
Until I witness the sight of the towering mountains


I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
I crave to ride until the western territory commences


To many words, gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
To count an indefinite number of words, I want to stare at the moon till I lose my consciousness


And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
I am not fond of restraints or obstacles in my way


No, Papa, don't you fence me in
No, father, I implore you to not imprison me




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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