Don't Fence Me In
Tommy Edwards 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 lyrics of Tommy Edwards's song Don't Fence Me In express a desire to be free and unencumbered by fences or boundaries of any kind. The singer longs for wide-open spaces and the ability to wander freely through the natural world, unburdened by society's constraints. He speaks of the beauty of the west, where the land is plentiful and the skies are vast and starry. He yearns to ride on his horse through the countryside, taking in everything that nature has to offer.


The song is not just about the physical desire for freedom, it is also about a spiritual need to break free from the constraints of modern life. The singer wants to be alone with his thoughts, to listen to the rustle of the leaves and the chirping of the birds. He wants to be unencumbered by the trappings of modern society, such as fences and boundaries. The lines "Send me off forever but I ask you please / Don't fence me in" suggest that the singer would rather die than be confined to a small, restricted existence.


Overall, Don't Fence Me In is a celebration of the human spirit and the desire for freedom. It speaks to our innate need to explore and discover, to roam through the world unfettered by the constraints of society. It is a timeless song that continues to resonate with people today, as we still yearn for freedom and the ability to live life on our own terms.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above
I desire vast expanses of land and a view of the night sky


Don't fence me in
I do not want to be confined or restricted in any way


Let me ride through the wide open country that I love
Allow me to freely travel through the open countryside that I cherish


Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
Let me have alone time in the gentle, cooling wind of the night


And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
I want to listen to the soothing sounds of the cottonwood trees rustling in the wind


Send me off forever but I ask you please
Even if I must leave forever, I implore you not to confine me


Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle on
I want to have the freedom to ride whichever way I choose on my trusted saddle


Underneath the western skies
In the open air beneath the vast expanse of western sky


On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder
Allow me and my horse to roam freely in the distance


Till I see the mountains rise
Until I reach the point where the mountains start to form in the distance


I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences
I long to journey to the location where the western frontier begins


To many words, gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
I want to be so entranced by the beauty of the moon that I lose myself in contemplation


And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
I cannot tolerate being tied down or confined by fences


No, Papa, don't you fence me in
Father, please do not impose restrictions on me, I need to be free




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Tyrone Epps

Tommy Edwards 4-ever !

Mick Jelsma

I had this 45 when I was a kid. I don't remember the B side....

The45Prof

The flip was "I'm Building Castles Again" (YouTube videos of that title appear to be blocked for copyright reasons).

Mick Jelsma

@The45Prof Yes it was! I remember it now. That's juice, man, I make a comment and bam! you come through! Thank you!

The45Prof

We aim to please! :-)

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