Cowboy Song (Thin Lizzy song)

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Cowboy Song (Thin Lizzy song) - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Cowboy Song"

Single by Thin Lizzy

from the album Jailbreak

B-side

"Angel from the Coast"

Released

September 1976^[1]

Genre

Length

3:17 (single)
5:16 (album)

Label

Mercury

Songwriter(s)

Phil Lynott and Brian Downey

Producer(s)

John Alcock

Thin Lizzy singles chronology

"Jailbreak"
(1976)

"Cowboy Song"
(1976)

"Rocky"
(1976)

"Cowboy Song" is a song by hard rock band Thin Lizzy that originally appeared on their 1976 album Jailbreak.

Released as a single in an edited version, it reached No. 77 on the US charts, but at the time did not gain as much attention as two of their most popular songs on the same album, "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "Jailbreak". The song was written by frontman Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey.

Written from the perspective of a cowboy, the lyrics tell of his wandering across the United States through various adventures and romances. The song begins with a mellow acoustic, country music-style introduction before a transition to up-tempo hard rock.

"Cowboy Song" has since been described as one of Thin Lizzy's great songs because it has "one of the catchiest, most memorable twin-guitar harmony leads ever".^[3] AllMusic described the song as turning the commonplace into legend, or bringing myth into the modern world.^[4] The author of Phil Lynott: The Rocker, Mark Putterford, described the song as "a cross between Clint Eastwood and Rudolph Valentino, with a bit of George Best thrown in for good measure".^[5] Rolling Stone magazine called the song "definitive".^[6]

Over time, it has become a fan favourite and one of Thin Lizzy's signature songs.^[2] The song is now one of their most popular and referred to as a classic.^[7]

Use in media

Cowboy Song was used in the 2016 film Eddie the Eagle^[8] when Hugh Jackman's character, a drunk Bronson Peary, ski jumps down a 90-metre jump.^[9] The song was also featured in the 2013 independent film The Kings of Summer when the main character (Joe Toy) first bike rides into the woods.^[10]

Released in late February 2016, the authorised biography of Phil Lynott is titled Cowboy Song.^[11]

Cover versions

Dump released a version on their 2003 studio album A Grown-Ass Man. CMJ New Music Report called the song the best track on the disc.^[12]
Golden Smog released a version on their 1992 five-song EP On Golden Smog.^[13]
Million Dollar Reload released a version on their 2014 live album As Real As It Gets. PlanetMosh called the song a great choice of cover and a great way to end the [live] show.^[14]
Anthrax released a version on selected singles from their 1993 studio album Sound of White Noise, and as the bonus track for the album's Japanese and Australian releases.^[15]
Supersuckers regularly sing a version at their live concerts. They also released a version on their 2008 album Get It Together (DVD [live] bonus disc).^[16]

Personnel (original 1976 version)

Phil Lynott – bass, vocals, acoustic guitar
Scott Gorham – lead and rhythm guitars
Brian Robertson – lead and rhythm guitars
Brian Downey – drums, percussion

Charts

Chart (1976)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[17]	77

References

^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 829. ISBN 9780862415419.
^ ^a ^b Sullivan, Denise. "Cowboy Song by Thin Lizzy - Track Info | AllMusic". allmusic. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
^ Melin, Eric (3 November 2010). The Great Songs: Thin Lizzy - The Cowboy Song. Scene-Stealers.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
^ Thomas, Stephen (2015). Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak. AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
^ Putterford, Mark (1994; pp. 114 & 115). Phil Lynott: The Rocker. Published by Castle Communications Plc, Great Britain. OCLC 32203220. ISBN 1-898141-50-9.
^ Brackett, Nathan (2004, page 809 ). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Thin Lizzy. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
^ Prato, Greg (2015). Thin Lizzy - One Night Only. AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
^ IMDb.com. Eddie the Eagle Soundtrack. Retrieved 2016-04-16. ^{[unreliable source?]}
^ Clarke, Donald (30 March 2016). Eddie the Eagle review: Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman nail the landing. Irish Times. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
^ IMDb. The Kings of Summer (2013) . Retrieved 2016-07-18. ^{[unreliable source?]}
^ Thomson, Graeme (2016). Cowboy Song: The Authorised Biography of Philip Lynott. Published by Hachette, UK.
^ Maybe, Brad (14 April 2003; page 9). CMJ New Music Report. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
^ Ankeny, Jason (2016). Golden Smog: On Golden Smog. AllMusic, a division of All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
^ Farrell, David (7 January 2014). Million Dollar Reload ‘As Real As It Gets’. PlanetMosh. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
^ "Anthrax - Discography (discogs.com)". Discogs. 27 June 2022.
^ Music: Supersuckers.com Archived 7 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
^ "Thin Lizzy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

v t e Thin Lizzy
Scott Gorham Darren Wharton Ricky Warwick Damon Johnson Troy Sanders Scott Travis Phil Lynott Brian Downey Eric Bell Eric Wrixon Gary Moore Brian Robertson Snowy White John Sykes Andy Gee John Cann Dave Flett Mark Nauseef Marco Mendoza Randy Gregg Francesco DiCosmo Tommy Aldridge Michael Lee Vivian Campbell Richard Fortus Midge Ure Tom Hamilton
Studio albums	Thin Lizzy Shades of a Blue Orphanage Vagabonds of the Western World Nightlife Fighting Jailbreak Johnny the Fox Bad Reputation Black Rose: A Rock Legend Chinatown Renegade Thunder and Lightning
Live albums	Live and Dangerous Life BBC Radio One Live in Concert The Peel Sessions The Boys Are Back in Town: Live in Australia One Night Only UK Tour '75 Still Dangerous
Compilations	Remembering – Part 1 The Continuing Saga of the Ageing Orphans The Adventures of Thin Lizzy Dedication Wild One Whiskey in the Jar Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels Greatest Hits The Definitive Collection
Songs	"The Farmer" "Whiskey in the Jar" "The Rocker" "Still in Love with You" "The Boys Are Back in Town" "Jailbreak" "Cowboy Song" "Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in Its Spotlight)" "Waiting for an Alibi" "Do Anything You Want To" "Sarah" "Killer on the Loose" "Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)" "Angel of Death" "Cold Sweat" "The Sun Goes Down"
Videos and DVDs	Live and Dangerous Thin Lizzy Live at Sydney Harbour '78 One Night in Dublin: A Tribute to Phil Lynott
Other articles	Thin Lizzy band members Discography Funky Junction Grand Slam Black Star Riders Philomena Lynott

Categories:

Hidden categories:

Use in media

Cover versions

Personnel (original 1976 version)

Charts

See also

References