Cowboy's Back in Town

Album: Cowboy's Back In Town (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the title track from Country music artist Trace Adkins' ninth studio album. Trace co-wrote the song with singer-songwriter Jeff Bates and Kenny Beard, who co-wrote his 1997 hit "The Rest of Mine." The inspiration for the song was when the veteran Country singer rolled into Spencer, Iowa, on September 20, 2009, to headline the Clay County Fair. "Here we are at this fair in Iowa in the middle of nowhere," Adkins recalled to Billboard magazine. "We saw these people beginning to gather, and somebody told me that I had played that fair before. I just made the comment, 'Oh, cowboy's back in town.'" Within hours, the trio had turned that 'cowboy' phrase into a song about a woman in a relationship with someone who's often in another city."
  • Adkins recalled the threesome penning the song to The Boot: "They got on tour bus with me to go out one weekend to try to write something. Jeff came up with that guitar lick, and we just started writing. I thought it turned out great. I played it that night in my show."
  • Adkins originally had little thought of recording the song, but he soon changed his mind after putting it on tape. "I didn't know how good it would turn out. The demo turned out really good so that it's actually what's on the record."
  • Adkins told The Boot why he chose this as the album's title track. "None of the other titles lent themselves to being an album title, so that, to me, was the only logical choice. It kind of makes sense because I feel like I'm reinvigorated and feel good about everything. I feel more like my old self and am having fun. I thought it was fitting."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.