Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson took the song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" to the top of the charts! Video and lyrics here.
“Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” was written by Ed and Patsy Bruce and originally appeared on Ed’s 1976 self-titled album. Country outlaw icons Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson covered the tune on their 1978 duet album Waylon & Willie. Their version peaked at No. 1 on the country music charts starting March 4, 1978 and stayed at #1 four weeks. This song also won the 1979 Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Performance by a Duo/Group.’
This music video became one of the most popular of Waylon’s career with over 22 million views as of March of 2023. Enjoy Waylon’s live performance of the classic song below!
The song is a cautionary tale from a father’s perspective to his wife, warning her not to let their son grow up to be a cowboy because of the tough and dangerous lifestyle associated with the profession. The lyrics advise mothers to encourage their sons to become doctors or lawyers instead of cowboys, as cowboys often face hard times, loneliness, and danger.
The chorus starts with the iconic line, “Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys, don’t let ’em pick guitars and drive them old trucks, let ’em be doctors and lawyers and such.” The lyrics continue to depict the cowboy lifestyle, such as riding the range, drinking, gambling, and being away from home for long periods. Despite the warning, the song ultimately acknowledges the allure of the cowboy lifestyle and the difficulty in resisting it, with the line “Cowboys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings, little warm puppies, and children, and girls of the night.”The song’s catchy melody and relatable lyrics have made it a timeless classic in the country music genre and a popular choice for cover versions by various artists.
Cowboys ain’t easy to love and they’re harder to hold
They’d rather give you a song than diamonds or gold
Lonestar belt buckles and old faded levis
And each night begins a new day
If you don’t understand him, an’ he don’t die young
He’ll prob’ly just ride away
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars or drive them old trucks
Let ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
‘Cause they’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
Even with someone they love
Cowboys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings
Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night
Them that don’t know him won’t like him and them that do
Sometimes won’t know how to take him
He ain’t wrong, he’s just different but his pride won’t let him
Do things to make you think he’s right
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars or drive them old trucks
Let ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
‘Cause they’ll never stay home and they’re always alone
Even with someone they love
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