Lyrics of
Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

Mammas Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys was written by Ed Bruce and Patsy Bruce. Originally recorded and released by Ed Bruce in 1975, it gained most of its popularity from the cover by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings in 1978. The songs lyrics reflect on the challenging cowboy lifestyle and advise mothers to steer their children away from it.

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 Levi's and each night begins a new day
If you don't understand him and he don't die young
He'll probably just ride away

Mammas 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
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They'll never stay home and they're always alone
Even with someone they love
Cowboys like smokey ol' 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 the things to make you think he's right

Mammas 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
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
They'll never stay home and they're always alone
Even with someone they love