Even A Cowboy Can Dream
Trisha Yearwood Lyrics


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He's not much to look at
A hard-working hand
Riding that western trail
His hat's worn out
He's tall and thin as a rail

And he don't say too much
In the fire's glow
When the others are shooting the breeze
He stares at the stars
Hand on his chin
And they wonder what he sees

It's something to do with a woman
Down around Abilene
It's long since over and done with
But even a cowboy can dream

Not that he's sorry
For the life he chose
He's roamed to far for regrets
The longhorns have led him
'Cross thousands of miles
And into as many sunsets

When the silent nights
Give him room to think
There's a face he can't shake from his mind
It makes him consider




What life would be life
If he were the settling kind

Overall Meaning

Trisha Yearwood's song "Even A Cowboy Can Dream" is a tribute to cowboys who have seen and experienced it all in their lifetime. They have been through countless trials and tribulations, but they still dream of the hope and love they could find. The singer of the song may not be the handsomest cowboy out there, but he is hardworking and has been riding the western trail all his life. He is tall and thin, and his hat is worn out from years of use.


This cowboy is not one to talk much, but when he does, he is always deep in thought, looking at the stars as if he's seeing something profound that others can't. His colleagues wonder what he sees, and he always replies that it's something to do with a woman down in Abilene. Even though the relationship is long over, he still holds onto the dream of finding love again. He may not regret the life he chose as a cowboy, but he still wonders what life would look like if he was the settling type.


The song appeals to our universal desires, to hope, and the belief that even a hardened cowboy can dream of finding love. We all have hopes and dreams, and the cowboy in the song is no different. Everyone, including cowboys, long for a fulfilling life and love, and this song is a testament to that.


Line by Line Meaning

He's not much to look at
This cowboy is not particularly handsome.


A hard-working hand
He is a laborer who works hard for a living.


Riding that western trail
He spends his days traveling the western part of the country.


His hat's worn out
He's been using the same hat for a long time, causing it to be in poor condition.


He's tall and thin as a rail
He has a tall and slim build.


And he don't say too much
This cowboy isn't particularly talkative.


In the fire's glow
He sits by the fire.


When the others are shooting the breeze
When other people are chatting.


He stares at the stars
He looks up at the stars.


Hand on his chin
He rests his hand on his chin as he thinks.


And they wonder what he sees
Other people wonder what he's thinking about.


It's something to do with a woman
He's thinking about a woman.


Down around Abilene
This woman is from Abilene.


It's long since over and done with
This woman is no longer in his life.


But even a cowboy can dream
He still has hope and dreams, despite his rough lifestyle.


Not that he's sorry
He isn't necessarily sorry for the path he's chosen.


For the life he chose
He is content with the lifestyle he has chosen.


He's roamed too far for regrets
He has traveled too far to regret his decisions.


The longhorns have led him
The longhorns he has been herding have taken him many places.


'Cross thousands of miles
He has traveled thousands of miles.


And into as many sunsets
He has seen many sunsets in his travels.


When the silent nights
During quiet nights.


Give him room to think
When he has time to reflect.


There's a face he can't shake from his mind
He can't stop thinking about a particular woman.


It makes him consider
This causes him to contemplate deeply.


What life would be like
He thinks about what his life would be like.


If he were the settling kind
If he were the type of person who could settle down somewhere.




Contributed by Julia P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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