Cowboy (Kid Rock song)

"Cowboy"
Single by Kid Rock
from the album Devil Without a Cause
ReleasedAugust 10, 1999 (1999-08-10)
StudioWhite Room (Detroit, Michigan)
Genre
Length4:17
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • John Travis
  • Kid Rock
Kid Rock singles chronology
"Bawitdaba"
(1999) 		"Cowboy"
(1999) 		"Only God Knows Why"
(1999)
Music video
"Cowboy" on YouTube

"Cowboy" is a song by American musician Kid Rock from his fourth studio album, Devil Without a Cause, released as the album's fourth single in August 1999. It was his first single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 82, while reaching number five on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. With its lyrics about pimping and traveling to California, the song is considered to be one of Kid Rock's best works and has been claimed as influencing modern country music,[1][2][3][4] and it has been labeled the first country rap song.[2] In 2018, the staff of Metal Hammer included the video in the site's list of "the 13 best nu metal videos".[5]

Artistry

"Cowboy" is a fusion of hip hop, country, southern rock and heavy metal.[2] Billboard, and Kid Rock himself, described the song as a cross between Run DMC and Lynyrd Skynyrd.[4][3] AXS called it the first country rap song,[2] but its also been described as rap rock[6][7] and alternative rock.[8] The instrumentation includes Jew's harp, blues harmonica and a piano solo which quotes the Doors song "L.A. Woman".[9][3] The lyrics feature Kid Rock rapping about moving to California to become a pimp, and start an escort service "for all the right reasons", located at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel, as well as getting thrown out of bars and buying a yacht.[3][10]

Lawsuit

In 2002, new wave band Boys Don't Cry filed suit against Kid Rock, claiming that "Cowboy" was derivative of their 1986 novelty song "I Wanna Be a Cowboy". They alleged Kid Rock, while DJing in Detroit, had played the song; the suit claimed that he took the bassline and adapted his chorus from the track.[11]

Reception

"Cowboy" was named one of "The Ten Worst Songs About Cowboys" by the Houston Press,[12] while other critics and journalists have called it one of Kid Rock's best songs, including writers for AXS and Billboard.[2][3][4]

The Village Voice writer Chaz Kangas called "Cowboy" a classic song, writing, "in the Clinton era, when your most viable pop stars were pristine teen-pop sensations, raucous nu-metal antagonists or alternative-to-alternative-to-alternative rock weirdos, Rock stood alone. It's been a surprising 15 years since, but 'Cowboy' remains one track from this era that's timeless without even trying to be."[13]

Legacy

"Cowboy" is considered to be the first country rap song, and was influential on the music styles described as "hick-hop" and "bro country".[2][4] Cowboys & Indians claims that "Cowboy" had a major impact on the country music scene; the magazine alleges that artists Jason Aldean and Big & Rich, among others, were influenced by the song's country rap style.[1]

Kid Rock performed the song at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. Country singer Kenny Chesney has covered the song in concert in 2009 and 2016, the latter with Kid Rock on Chesney's Spread the Love Tour.[14][15][16][17][18] In 2017, Kid Rock joined country singer Chris Janson on stage for mashup of Janson's song "Buy Me A Boat" and "Cowboy".[19]

Personnel

  • Kid Rock – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar, piano, harp
  • Bobby East – slide guitar, electric guitar
  • Matt O'Brien – bass guitar
  • Stefanie Eulinberg – drums
  • Misty Love – background vocals
  • Shirley Hayden – background vocals

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 10, 1999 Alternative radio
[32]
United Kingdom October 11, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
  • Atlantic
  • Lava
 [33]
United States December 7, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio
  • Atlantic
  • Lava
  • Top Dog
 [34]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kid Rock - C&I Magazine". Cowboysindians.com. July 1, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "The 10 best Kid Rock songs". Axs.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e "15 Best Kid Rock singles, from 'Bawitdaba' to 'First Kiss'". Amp.azcentral.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kid Rock's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard.com.
  5. ^ Hammerpublished, Metal (February 20, 2018). "The 13 best nu metal videos". Louder. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  6. ^ "The History of Rock". Entertainment Weekly.
  7. ^ "Kid Rock Says "Rap-Rock" "Turned Out To Be Pretty Gay"". Hiphopdx.com.
  8. ^ "The 69 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999". Spin.com. July 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 450. ISBN 9780743201698.
  10. ^ "Straight out the Trailer". Villagevoice.com. February 9, 1999. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Kid Rock Accused Of Biting '80s Synth Tune For 'Cowboy'". MTV. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014.
  12. ^ Hlavaty, Craig (September 23, 2010). "The Ten Worst Songs About Cowboys". Houstonpress.com.
  13. ^ "In Defense of Kid Rock: Try Hating These Classics". Villagevoice.com. June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018.
  14. ^ "Stagecoach '09 Sunday: Kenny Chesney cleans up Kid Rock's mess". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ^ "Radio.com". Radio.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  16. ^ "Kid Rock Surprises Kenny Chesney Audience in Detroit [Watch]". Taste of Country. August 15, 2016.
  17. ^ Leahey, Andrew (August 15, 2016). "See Kid Rock's Surprise 'Cowboy' Medley With Kenny Chesney". Rolling Stone.
  18. ^ "Kenny Chesney and Kid Rock Light Up Ford Field". Cmt.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016.
  19. ^ "Kid Rock Joined Chris Janson on Stage for Mashup of "Buy Me a Boat" and "Cowboy" (And We Didn't Hate It)". Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  20. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 154.
  21. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 47, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "Kid Rock – Cowboy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  23. ^ "Kid Rock – Cowboy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 17/10/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 17/10/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  26. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  27. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  28. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History: Pop Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  29. ^ "Kid Rock Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  30. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 35.
  31. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-90.
  32. ^ "Alternative: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1311. August 6, 1999. p. 112.
  33. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 11 October, 1999: Singles". Music Week. October 9, 1999. p. 31.
  34. ^ "CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1328. December 3, 1999. p. 50.
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