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

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.