Cowboy by Tyler the Creator Lyrics Meaning – The Wild West of the Psyche
Lyrics
What, when, where, how, like who gives a fuck
Golf Wang M-O-B, mopping niggas ante up
Ain’t been this fucking sick since brain cancer ate my Granny up
Rest in peace, her lying it, life ain’t got no light in it
Darker than that closet that nigga Frankie was hiding in
Open it, dope in it, Bobby where’s my fucking pipe?
Address my little dick as Ike, twenty says I hit your wife
This is life, truthfully I just want to fly some kites
Grab Salem and Slater and go around, riding bikes
Get some ice cream, Golf Wang rascals toward the night
To skate around and do annoying shit that older peeps despise
Fuck it though, going hard as riga mo
Got a nigga dollars and a couple cracker kids at shows
Cracked a couple kids in the head with this cast
Had a blast out in Europe, had a Swedish bitch lickin’ toes
That’s how it goes, designing clothes, cats on everything, cats on everything
You think all this money will make a happy me?
But I’m ’bout as lonely as crackers that supermodels eat
Everybody’s sparking it but me and I keep coughing
Can’t keep calm in this hot box and I get nauseous
Hop in the car and write a song as I’m heading straight to the office
Pissed off at Jasper because that’s some faggot shit called “Pink Dolphin”
I roll here on a mean unicorn
Green hat, Vans, Golf top is the team uniform
Downin’ that Capri Sun, tighten my bandana up
Something like a les, I’m forgetting my damn manners ’cause
I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy
When you’re alone thoughts start coming in
Punching in that dark lock box and they start rummaging
Shit you’ve got to battle with, wishing they could skedaddle
But it makes your shadow say none, fun and grab the gun again
I needed to get out of the house
So I hit the Dead Sams, and we went biking it out
In a black hoodie, with an Arizona and a bag of Skittles
Just to see what all that fucking hype is about
Now everytime you see a roach you think of me, ay?
‘Cause everytime I see one I think what his parents would say
In court saying I ate him, I wasn’t present that day
I was with Whitney smoking, sitting at the dock of the bay
I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy
Do you know how weird it is knowing I make a bunch of cheese
While my friends can’t afford little pizzas from Little Caesars
And their whole goal is to roll up and smoke bowls
So I don’t feel bad when they not eating
(But you still treating us you punk bitch)
Wolf Haley got more methods than Pinkman
I’m never civil Fuck Lincoln
Preme out the bag it’s no wrinkles
I’m okie dokie and loopy
And booboo nana and caca
If you think I’m fucking cuckoo
Try talking to my shrink then
Hey
Bitch
I’m right here
Yo who’s that?
That’s Salem
That’s my girlfriend
Stay the fuck away from her alright?
I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy on my own trip
And I am the cowboy
Tyler, the Creator has always been one to adorn his lyrics with deeper meanings, metaphors, and a level of introspectiveness that resonates with a generation of listeners grappling with identity, fame, and the isolation that ironically accompanies it. ‘Cowboy’, a track from his acclaimed album ‘Wolf’, is no exception, and it’s packed with his signature blend of raw emotion, tight production, and candid commentary on his own life and status.
Yet, beneath its seemingly rough exterior, ‘Cowboy’ is an anthem of self-reliance, a journey into the artist’s internal struggles, and a mirror reflecting the complexities of success. Tyler’s verses are a rugged terrain, filled with personal anecdotes and cultural references that at first glance might seem scattered but upon closer examination, reveal the profound solitude of the modern artist.
The Lone Ranger: Tyler’s Self-Made Mythology
The repetition of “I am the cowboy” serves as the chorus that frames the song, casting Tyler as the solitary figure navigating the treacherous landscape of fame and personal tribulation. The cowboy is an iconic symbol of rugged individualism and freedom, yet often one tied to loneliness and distance from society. Tyler weaves this narrative throughout the track, underpinning a declaration of independence with the acknowledgement of its costs.
Moreover, by declaring himself a ‘cowboy on my own trip,’ Tyler asserts that his journey is unique to him – he’s not following anyone else’s path, rules, or expectations. This ties into the larger themes of self-discovery and rebellion that are found across his body of work, where forging one’s path often means walking alone.
Peeking Into Tyler’s Closet: The Hidden Meaning
In one of the darker lines, Tyler references a closet that Frank Ocean, a fellow Odd Future member, was once metaphorically ‘hiding in,’ alluding to Frank’s coming out in an industry that has traditionally been challenging for LGBTQ+ artists. It’s a moment where Tyler uses his platform to reflect on the hidden struggles of those around him, while also pointing to his own ‘closet’ filled with ‘dope’ and insecurities. This ‘closet’ is a private space for one’s demons, fears, and the darker secrets that everyone carries.
If the closet represents repressed aspects of the self or untold stories, opening it is an act of vulnerability and courage, themes Tyler has never shied away from in his work. The candidness present in ‘Cowboy’ is emblematic of Tyler’s refusal to fake it for the public; he’s all too willing to confront his internal conflicts head-on.
A Symphony of Oddities: Dissecting Tyler’s Verses
From lines that evoke personal loss like ‘Ain’t been this f*cking sick since brain cancer ate my Granny up’ to the mundane desire ‘to fly some kites,’ Tyler’s lyrics paint a picture of the man behind the music. There’s a juxtaposition of the heavy with the light-hearted, the tragic with the absurd, creating a portrait of a person who is as multifaceted and unpredictable as his tracks.
Even with his success, expressed through lines like ‘Got a nigga dollars and a couple cracker kids at shows’, there’s a persistent sense of isolation – ‘But I’m ’bout as lonely as crackers that supermodels eat.’ It’s these memorable lines that hook the listener, drawing them into Tyler’s world where fame, fortune, and frugality collide.
Nightmares and Daydreams: The Dichotomy of Tyler’s Reality
Within ‘Cowboy’, there is a running tension between Tyler’s nightmares and his daydreams. Passages like ‘When you’re alone thoughts start coming in’ reveal the artist’s internal battleground. The mind becomes an enemy, digging up fears and doubts that one must conquer, akin to the cowboy’s struggle against the wilderness. Tyler doesn’t just depict his everyday life; he reveals the mental challenges that lurk beneath the surface.
Yet, even as he deals with these hardships, he still has moments of aspiration and whimsy. His desire to ‘skate around and do annoying shit’ reflects a yearning to cling to the simplicity of youth and happiness before life’s intricacies took hold. This oscillation between dread and yearning captures the human experience, particularly in an age where constant connectedness often leads to profound solitude.
Cracking the ‘Code’: The Significance of Symbolism
Tyler’s references to cultural moments, such as the tragic death of Trayvon Martin (‘In a black hoodie, with an Arizona and a bag of Skittles’), and personal icons like ‘Whitney’, serve as more than just name-drops. They’re symbolic intrusions into his narrative, tying the personal to the societal in a way that both evokes empathy and underlines the shared nature of struggle.
These symbols extend to the consumerist critique present in the song, wherein Tyler grapples with the absurdity of luxury (‘Preme out the bag it’s no wrinkles’) in the face of genuine emotional needs. By interweaving his story with these broader references, Tyler crafts a song that is as much an introspection as it is a critique of the culture that surrounds him.
