Lonely Cowboy
The Bottle Rockets Lyrics
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He's headed for the sale barn once again
He'll meet Red, and Brent and Billy
They are all the best of friends
They're telling stories of when they were younger
He listens to the tales they bend
When all is done and the day is over
His heart is young but his memories are old
He was born 100 years too late
The lonely cowboy chases the West
Sadly for him it just won't wait
He often looks through his tattered collection
Of Marlboro ads torn from magazines
Sometimes he goes down to the local theatre
And watches Pale Riders on the movie screen
Yeah at times it seems so unbearable and unfair
He just falls apart at the seems
The lonely cowboy will someday
Ride the plains, yet just in his dreams
His heart is young but his memories are old
He was born 100 years too late
The lonely cowboy chases the West
Sadly for him it just won't wait
I said his heart is young but his memories are old
He was born 100 years too late
The lonely cowboy chases the West
Sadly for him it just won't wait
The Bottle Rockets's song Lonely Cowboy tells the story of a man reminiscing about his past while living a solitary life as a cowboy. The song begins with the man heading towards the sale barn to meet his friends Red, Brent, and Billy. The group shares stories of their younger years, but the man feels out of place - his heart is young, but his memories are old. He feels like he was born 100 years too late and that he is chasing something that he will never be able to catch.
The cowboy spends his free time looking through his tattered collection of Marlboro ads and watching Western movies at the local theatre. These activities give him a temporary respite from his loneliness and reminders of the time he wishes he could have lived in. However, at times, the weight of his isolation becomes unbearable for him, and he falls apart at the seams.
Ultimately, the lyrics convey the feeling of longing and nostalgia that often accompanies the desire to live a different kind of life. In this case, the cowboy is chasing the idea of the Wild West but is unable to live it fully due to time and circumstance.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Saturday night and the truck is loaded
The singer sets the scene of the lonely cowboy's Saturday night routine, where he loads his truck and heads to the sale barn.
He's headed for the sale barn once again
The lonely cowboy goes to the sale barn regularly on Saturday nights, possibly to sell his cattle.
He'll meet Red, and Brent and Billy
The lonely cowboy's friends at the sale barn are named Red, Brent, and Billy.
They are all the best of friends
The lonely cowboy and his friends have a close bond and enjoy each other's company.
They're telling stories of when they were younger
The lonely cowboy's friends reminisce about their younger days and share stories with each other.
He listens to the tales they bend
The lonely cowboy attentively listens to his friends' stories, even if they may exaggerate some details.
When all is done and the day is over
After spending time with his friends and finishing up at the sale barn, the day draws to a close for the lonely cowboy.
The lonely cowboy rides again
Despite spending time with his friends, the lonely cowboy still feels isolated and alone, as his regular routine continues.
His heart is young but his memories are old
Although the lonely cowboy still has a youthful spirit, he holds on to memories of the past that make him feel older.
He was born 100 years too late
The lonely cowboy feels as though his love for the Wild West would have been better suited in a different time period.
The lonely cowboy chases the West
The lonely cowboy longs for the Wild West and searches for ways to relive it in his own life.
Sadly for him it just won't wait
Despite his desire to experience the Wild West, the lonely cowboy knows that it no longer exists in the same way and he is unable to find a way to fully embrace it.
He often looks through his tattered collection
The lonely cowboy has a collection of Marlboro ads that he frequently looks through, possibly to relive memories of the old west.
Of Marlboro ads torn from magazines
The lonely cowboy collects Marlboro ads, potentially because they are reminiscent of advertisements from the past.
Sometimes he goes down to the local theatre
The lonely cowboy sometimes visits the local theater to watch western movies, potentially to help him feel closer to the Wild West era.
And watches Pale Riders on the movie screen
One of the movies the lonely cowboy watches is Pale Riders, a movie that features the Wild West era.
Yeah at times it seems so unbearable and unfair
The lonely cowboy experiences emotions of sadness and frustration, as he feels unable to fully embrace the Wild West era.
He just falls apart at the seems
The emotions of the lonely cowboy become too much for him to bear, causing him to feel overwhelmed.
The lonely cowboy will someday
Despite his current situation, the lonely cowboy still holds on to hope for the future.
Ride the plains, yet just in his dreams
The lonely cowboy dreams of riding the plains of the Wild West, but knows that it is only a fantasy and is unlikely to become a reality.
I said his heart is young but his memories are old
The artist reiterates that the lonely cowboy still has a youthful spirit, but holds on to older memories that give him a sense of nostalgia.
The lonely cowboy chases the West
Once again, the artist emphasizes the lonely cowboy's desire to chase the Wild West era, and its associated lifestyle and culture.
Sadly for him it just won't wait
Despite his longing to experience the Wild West, the lonely cowboy knows that it is impossible for him to fully embrace it in his current time period.
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.