"Should've Been a Cowboy" | ||||
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Single by Toby Keith | ||||
from the album Toby Keith | ||||
B-side | "Some Kinda Good Kinda Hold on Me" | |||
Released | February 12, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:30 | |||
Label | Polygram/Mercury 864990 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Toby Keith | |||
Producer(s) |
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Toby Keith singles chronology | ||||
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"Should've Been a Cowboy" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released on February 12, 1993, as his debut single and the first from his self-titled debut album. On June 5, 1993, the song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. It also peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.
The song is a staple following sporting events at Oklahoma State University (home of the Cowboys), often played over the venue's PA system several times in succession as fans emptied the stadium or arena. [1]
American Aquarium covered the song on their 2021 album Slappers, Bangers, and Certified Twangers: Vol 1.
The song was inspired by an incident Keith experienced at a bar in the early 90s. According to Keith:
“This highway patrolman who I had met on the trip, his name was John, he jumps up. He was probably 45 or 50 back then, and he runs over to this 25-year-old cowgirl. He was going to show that he could bust a move. She turns him down. He comes over, and said, ‘She says she doesn’t dance.’ About 15 minutes later, a young cowboy comes in — and off they go on the dance floor. Everybody was making fun of him, and one of the guys said, ‘John, I guess you should have been a cowboy.’ ” [2]
The lyrics romanticize the cowboy lifestyle through references to old Westerns. The first verse references Gunsmoke , in which cowboy hero Marshal Dillon never settled down with his love interest Miss Kitty. The second verse tells of his own adventures if the narrator were a cowboy: having "a sidekick with a funny name" (possibly a reference to sidekicks like Tonto or Gordito), travelling west to California (including the historical quote "Go West, young man"), hunting down Western outlaw Jesse James, joining up with the Texas Rangers, and so on. The chorus refers to famous singing cowboys Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and lists common patterns depicted in Westerns such as six-shooters (revolvers) and cattle drives.
In 2021, Adeem the Artist released the song "I Wish You Would've Been a Cowboy", an answer song to "Should've Been a Cowboy" which criticizes Keith, particularly his post 9/11 songwriting. [3]
The song is available as downloadable content on the music video game, Rock Band .
"Should've Been a Cowboy" debuted at number 69 on the Hot Country Songs chart for the week of March 6, 1993. It became Keith's first number one single on the chart dated June 5, 1993, remaining there for two weeks. It was certified three-times platinum by the RIAA on September 18, 2023, thirty years after its release. [4] Following Keith's death on February 5, 2024, the single re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 12 on the chart week dated February 17, 2024. It was one of five Toby Keith songs to re-enter the chart that week, as well as the highest peaking. [5]
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [6] | 1 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] | 93 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [8] | 1 |
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [9] | 193 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [10] | 12 |
Chart (1993) | Position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [11] | 73 |
US Country Songs ( Billboard ) [12] | 39 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [13] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Toby Keith Covel was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and businessman.
"I Wanna Talk About Me" is a song written by Bobby Braddock and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. The single was released on August 20, 2001 as the second single from Keith's 2001 album Pull My Chain. The song was his seventh number one single on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue " is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. The song was written in late 2001, and was inspired by Keith's father's death in March 2001, as well as the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States later that year. It was released in May 2002 as the lead single from the album, Unleashed.
"Beer for My Horses" is a song recorded by American country music artists Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. It was written by Keith and Scotty Emerick for Keith's seventh studio album, Unleashed. The song was released as the album's fourth and final single on April 7, 2003.
Toby Keith is the debut studio album by American country music artist Toby Keith. Released on April 20, 1993, by Mercury Records, it features the singles "Should've Been a Cowboy", "He Ain't Worth Missing", "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action", and "Wish I Didn't Know Now". Respectively, these songs peaked at No. 1, No. 5, No. 2, and No. 2 on the Hot Country Songs charts. The album sold more than one million copies in the United States, earning RIAA platinum certification. All the songs, except for "Some Kinda Good Kinda Hold On Me" and "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action", were written solely by Keith.
Greatest Hits 2 is the second compilation album by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released on November 9, 2004 by DreamWorks Records, a label Keith worked with the record company from 1999 to 2006.
"How Do You Like Me Now?!" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in November 1999 as the second single and title track from his album of the same name. Keith wrote it with Chuck Cannon.
"As Good as I Once Was" is a song recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith. It was released in May 2005 as the second single from Keith's album Honkytonk University. Keith wrote the song with Scotty Emerick.
"I Love This Bar" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in August 2003 as the first single from his 2003 album Shock'n Y'all. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, keeping the top spot for five weeks. Keith wrote this song with Scotty Emerick.
"It's a Little Too Late" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Mark Chesnutt. It was released in September 1996 as the lead single from his Greatest Hits compilation album. The song reached number-one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The song was written by Chesnutt, Roger Springer and Slugger Morrissette.
"Me Too" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith. It was released on November 18, 1996 as the third and final single from his album Blue Moon. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Keith wrote the song with Chuck Cannon.
American country music singer Toby Keith released 21 studio albums and eight compilation albums. He released 70 singles, with 65 of them charting on the Billboard country chart; 54 reached the Top 40, 40 made the top 10, and 20 went to number one from 1993 to 2021.
"A Little Too Late" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith that reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was released in April 2006 as the second single from his CD White Trash with Money. Keith wrote the song with his frequent collaborator, Scotty Emerick, and Dean Dillon.
Trace Adkins is an American country music singer. His discography consists of fourteen studio albums and six greatest hits albums. Of his fourteen studio albums, six have been certified by the RIAA: 1997's Big Time is certified Gold, as are 2001's Chrome, and 2006's Dangerous Man. His 1996 debut Dreamin' Out Loud and 2003's Comin' On Strong are certified Platinum. 2005's Songs About Me is his best-selling album, certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA. Two of Adkins' compilation albums, Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1 and American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II are certified Platinum
"Ships That Don't Come In" is a song recorded by American country music singer Joe Diffie that reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1992. It was released in April 1992 as the second single from his album Regular Joe. The song was written by Julian Williams, Paul Nelson and Dave Gibson the latter of whom was also recording for Epic as a member of the Gibson/Miller Band at the time.
"He Ain't Worth Missing" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith. It was released in June 1993 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 11 on the Canadian RPM country tracks. It also peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.
"A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action" is a song written by Keith Hinton and Jimmy Alan Stewart. Originally recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams Jr. on his 1992 album Maverick, the song was also recorded by Toby Keith one year later on his self-titled debut album. Keith's version was released in November 1993 as that album's third single. Also, it reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 25 on the Canadian RPM charts.
"Wish I Didn't Know Now" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith. It was released in February 1994 as the fourth and final single from his self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and at number 17 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
"Who's That Man" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Toby Keith. It was released in July 1994 as the first single from his 1994 album Boomtown. The song became Keith's second number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
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