The Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy song was released in 1975 and enjoyed huge popularity with both country and pop music audiences. Musician, actor, and songwriter Glen Campbell spent over 50 years in show business, releasing over 70 albums with 80 songs charting in the United States.
Campbell released his own version of the song in May 1975, where it immediately gained commercial success as both a country and pop song. The song reached the top spot on the both the Billboard Hot Country and Billboard Hot 100 charts starting the week of August 23, 1975..
The music video became the most popular of Glen’s career with over 41 million views as of August of 2023. Watch the iconic music video for “Rhinestone Cowboy” and see the written lyrics below!
Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy Music Video
Campbell’s own life story also added a layer of authenticity to the song. Like the song’s protagonist, Campbell had experienced his fair share of rejection and setbacks in the music business. He had struggled to make a name for himself in the competitive world of country music, working as a session musician before finally breaking out as a solo artist in the late 1960s. “Rhinestone Cowboy” proved to be a turning point in Campbell’s career, cementing his status as a country music superstar and earning him a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. The song’s success also helped to popularize the “rhinestone cowboy” fashion trend, with its glittery, bedazzled clothing and accessories becoming a symbol of country music style.
“Rhinestone Cowboy” was written by Larry Weiss in 1974, and released on his album Black and Blue Suite. However, the song saw very little commercial success. That year, Glen Campbell heard the song on the radio while touring in Australia, and decided to learn it.
Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy Lyrics
I’ve been walkin’ these streets so long
Singin’ the same old song
I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway
Where hustle’s the name of the game
And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain
There’s been a load of compromisin’
On the road to my horizon
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone
Well, I really don’t mind the rain
And a smile can hide all the pain
But you’re down when you’re ridin’ the train that’s takin’ the long way
And I dream of the things I’ll do
With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe
There’ll be a load of compromisin’
On the road to my horizon
But I’m gonna be where the lights are shinin’ on me
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Rhinestone cowboy
Gettin’ cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Gettin’ card and letters from people I don’t even know
Decades after its release, “Rhinestone Cowboy” remains a beloved classic, a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire and uplift. Its message of perseverance and determination continues to resonate with listeners of all ages, making it a timeless anthem for anyone who has ever dared to dream big.
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