☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics express the longing for a wild and adventurous life as a cowboy.
- The singer regrets not becoming a cowboy and imagines stealing young girls' hearts and riding on a horse.
- The lyrics show the desire for freedom, romance, and excitement in the Wild West.
- The singer imagines chasing Jesse James and working as a passenger for the Texas Rangers.
- The song lyrics end with the imagery of being in the Wild West, with whiskey, women, and gold.
Interpretation
"Should've Been a Cowboy" is a song by
Toby Keith that expresses the longing for a wild, adventurous life in a bygone era. The song tells the story of a man who dreams of being a cowboy instead of leading a normal life.
The lyrics begin with a mention of Marshall Dillon, a character from the TV series "Gunsmoke". The singer imagines asking Miss Kitty, another character from the series, if she would run away with him or settle down. This shows that the singer yearns for freedom and romance.
In the chorus, the singer regrets not becoming a cowboy. He imagines swinging his lasso, riding on a horse, and stealing young girls' hearts, much like the famous cowboy figures Gene and Roy. The singer laments not having had the opportunity to experience these adventures and enjoy the freedom of the Wild West.
The lyrics also include the idea of being a cowboy who hunts down Jesse James or works as a sidekick for the Texas Rangers. These lines show the desire for excitement and danger.
The lyrics end with the imagery of being in the Wild West, in California, with whiskey, women, and gold. The singer imagines sleeping under the starry sky and dreams of an exciting life.
Overall, the lyrics of Toby Keith's "Should've Been a Cowboy" express the desire for an adventurous life full of freedom and romance that the singer could have had as a cowboy. He regrets missing out on this opportunity and longs for the exciting times of the Wild West.