Last Cowboy Song
The Highwaymen Lyrics


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This is the last cowboy song
The end of a hundred year Waltz
The voices sound sad as they're singin' along
Another piece of America's lost

He rides the feed lots, clerks in the markets
On weekends sellin' tobacco and beer
And his dreams of tomorrow, surrounded by fences
But he'll dream tonight of when fences weren't here

He blazed the trail with Lewis and Clark
And eyeball to eyeball, old Wyatt backed down
He stood shoulder to shoulder with Travis in Texas
And rode with the 7th when Custer went down

This is the last cowboy song
The end of a hundred year Waltz
The voices sound sad as they're singin' along
Another piece of America's lost

Remington showed us how he looked on canvas
And Louis Lamour has told us his tale
Me and Johnny and Waylon and Kris sing about him
And wish to God, we could have ridden his trail

This is the last cowboy song
The end of a hundred year Waltz
The voices sound sad as they're singin' along
Another piece of America's lost

This is the last cowboy song
The end of a hundred year Waltz
The voices sound sad as they're singin' along
Another piece of America's lost





This is the last cowboy song
The end of a hundred year Waltz

Overall Meaning

The Last Cowboy Song, performed by The Highwaymen, is a reflective song that mourns the passing of the cowboy, an iconic figure of the American West. The song is an elegy for a rapidly disappearing way of life that is associated with the frontier spirit of independence, self-reliance, exploration, and adventure, all of which are values that are cherished by Americans. The lyrics capture the sense of loss, sadness, and nostalgia that accompany the decline of the cowboy culture, which has now mostly become the stuff of myths and legends. The song imagines the cowboy as a stoic figure who embodies the American ethos of resilience, courage, and determination in the face of adversity, and as someone whose legacy will endure even as his presence fades away.


The lyrics of the song reveal the diverse occupations that cowboys took up in their quest for survival in the post-frontier era. The cowboy is depicted as someone who works at a feedlot and sells tobacco and beer on weekends, highlighting the fact that the cowboy lifestyle was not a glamorous one, but rather a labor-intensive, modest one that required constant adaptation to changing circumstances. The song also alludes to some of the cowboy's legendary exploits, such as his participation in the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Battle of the Alamo, and the Battle of Little Bighorn. The song also mentions famous cowboy artists and writers, such as Frederic Remington and Louis L'Amour, who have helped to preserve and popularize the cowboy mythos.


Line by Line Meaning

This is the last cowboy song
This song is a tribute to the final cowboy and an acknowledgement that this way of life is coming to an end.


The end of a hundred year Waltz
The tradition of cowboys and their lifestyles have been passed down for a century, but it is now coming to an end.


The voices sound sad as they're singin' along
The singers and their listeners are mourning the end of an era that they feel is an essential part of American history and culture.


Another piece of America's lost
As the cowboy way of life fades away, another piece of American history and culture is disappearing.


He rides the feed lots, clerks in the markets
The cowboy's way of life is no longer the primary way to make a living, and he must now work in other industries to survive.


On weekends sellin' tobacco and beer
The cowboy's supplementary income often comes from selling tobacco and beer on weekends.


And his dreams of tomorrow, surrounded by fences
The cowboy's dreams for the future are limited by the fences that have been erected around the land he once freely roamed.


But he'll dream tonight of when fences weren't here
Despite the limitations of his current situation, the cowboy finds solace in reminiscing about a time when the land was open and fences didn't separate it.


He blazed the trail with Lewis and Clark
The cowboy's legacy extends back to the earliest explorers of the American West, such as Lewis and Clark.


And eyeball to eyeball, old Wyatt backed down
The cowboy's bravery was demonstrated by his willingness to stand up to dangerous outlaws like Wyatt Earp.


He stood shoulder to shoulder with Travis in Texas
The cowboy was present at major events in American history, such as the Battle of the Alamo where he fought alongside William Barret Travis.


And rode with the 7th when Custer went down
The cowboy was also present at the Battle of Little Bighorn alongside General Custer's 7th Cavalry.


Remington showed us how he looked on canvas
Painters like Frederic Remington captured the cowboy's image on canvas and helped to popularize the cowboy as an American icon.


And Louis Lamour has told us his tale
Writers like Louis Lamour wrote about the cowboy's life and adventures to help preserve his legacy.


Me and Johnny and Waylon and Kris sing about him
Country music legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson honor the cowboy through their music.


And wish to God, we could have ridden his trail
The singers and their fans wish they could have experienced the cowboy way of life themselves and are grateful for the cowboy's contribution to American history and culture.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ED BRUCE, RON PETERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@rexsauro5831

I absolutely love how Willie replaces the part that says Willie and Waylon and me, to me Johnny Waylon and Kris just to fit everyone in the band, and later on the concert johnny did the same with the end of a boy named Sue

@enki345

And Kris does it in Me and Bobby McGee, saying "Feeling good was good enough for me. Good enough for me, and Johnny, and Waylon, and Willie. Good enough for me, and Bobby McGee"

@rexsauro5831

@Jamie Grayson yeah this show is just amazing I've heard it countless times!

@anamariapereiramautone7365

de de la regasificadora

@davidgillies100

T by😮

@anelladambrosio2513

​@@davidgillies100ciao David! 🙋‍♀️😍😘💘🍀

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@josephvanover1157

Waylon's voice is second to none. They all four are great but Waylon's voice is so powerful. Just great singers/performers no doubt.

@ddoeser5830

Onvergetelijk mensen uit de Country wereldsterren die helaas niet méér in ons midden zijn R.I.P ❤🇳🇱 ONVERGETELIJK JAAR 2O22 🙏

@dorisehmel722

@D Doeser schließe mich an R.I.P Country Weltstars Grüße von Doris 😘 💋 💓 💟 🤗 🙋‍♀️

@xine9997

Probably the technically best voice. But, for me, it's the imperfection of the others that drags me in. (Not a judgement)

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