Should've Been a Cowboy
Encyclopedia
"Should've Been a Cowboy" is the title of a song written and recorded by American
country music
artist Toby Keith
. Released in February 1993, it was the lead off single released from Toby's first album Toby Keith
. On June 5, 1993, it reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks. It also peaked at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.
It has received more than 3 million spin
s on country radio, making it the most played country song of the 1990s decade.
, specifically how Marshall Dillon never proposed and settled down with "Kitty", even though she would agree. The second verse tells of his own adventures if the narrator were a cowboy (having "a sidekick with a funny name" (possibly referring to 'Tonto,' the Lone Ranger's sidekick), going West, etc.)
.
chart for the week of March 6, 1993.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
. Released in February 1993, it was the lead off single released from Toby's first album Toby Keith
Toby Keith (album)
Toby Keith is the self-titled debut album from American country music artist Toby Keith. Released in 1993 on Polygram Records, it features the singles "Should've Been a Cowboy", "He Ain't Worth Missing", "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action", and "Wish I Didn't Know Now". Respectively, these...
. On June 5, 1993, it reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks. It also peaked at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it a minor crossover hit.
It has received more than 3 million spin
Spin (radio)
In radio broadcasting, a spin is a single play of a song. The term is also used as a unit to measure popularity, typically in spins per week...
s on country radio, making it the most played country song of the 1990s decade.
Content
The first verse of the song is a reference to the radio series turned TV show GunsmokeGunsmoke
Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman MacDonnell and writer John Meston. The stories take place in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West....
, specifically how Marshall Dillon never proposed and settled down with "Kitty", even though she would agree. The second verse tells of his own adventures if the narrator were a cowboy (having "a sidekick with a funny name" (possibly referring to 'Tonto,' the Lone Ranger's sidekick), going West, etc.)
Music video
The music video was directed by Marc Ball and premiered in early 1993. A second version of the video was made featuring clips of the 1992 Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Chart positions
"Should've Been a Cowboy" debuted at #69 on the Hot Country Singles & TracksHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart for the week of March 6, 1993.
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 93 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |