“If I Was a Cowboy” by Miranda Lambert
As we have recently noted in our analysis of a 1990s’ Paula Cole song, a cowboy is an American figure largely from days past who in more modern times serves as a symbol of a rugged yet liberated lifestyle on the road, in the outback or what have you. And that is fundamentally what Miranda Lambert’s “If I Was a Cowboy” is based on. Simply put, the singer is fantasizing about being a cowboy, as indicated by the title.
Also, the claim to fame of many legendary cowboys, such as Jesse James of Billy the Kid, was the fact that they were outlaws. So when you combine that reality with the concept above, in the minds of many people what the cowboy also represents is an uninhibited, lawless way of living.
And one of such individuals would obviously be Miranda Lambert, whose visions of life on the range includes openly-carrying iron and in times of need jacking money instead of borrowing it.
Also, let it be known that Lambert was in fact raised in small-town Texas, i.e. the prototypical cowboy community and state. Indeed the Lone Star State is well known for its liberal open carry laws, reminiscent of how the Wild West is often depicted in film. So it’s not like Miranda’s fantasies are based solely on fictional depictions of cowboys, if you will.
But speaking more practically, let’s say that when the metaverse finally comes into existence, ladies like Miranda will likely take on the avatar of a completely-criminal cowboy. But beyond the make-believe aspect of this piece, as revealed in the bridge there is also a feminist palpable side to this song. And that would be along the lines of the vocalist encouraging women to have dreams which would transcend their traditional gender assignments.
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is a singer from Texas who, between 2005 and 2019, dropped a string of seven consecutive studio albums that reached number one on Billboard’s Top Country Albums list. And one of those projects, 2014’s Platinum, also topped the Billboard 200.
“If I Was a Cowboy”
“If I Was a Cowboy” is the first track the songstress has come out with in 2021, being released on 15 October of said year.
This song was written by Jesse Frasure and produced by Luke Dick alongside Jon Randall.
At the time of its issuance, the album this track will be featured, if any, has yet to be revealed. However, it is possible that it is a standalone single considering that a group Miranda Lambert is a part of, the Pistol Annies, have an album coming out later in October of 2021.
It sounds like she’s encouraging young girls to think it’s ok to be fantasizing about being boys and promoting LGBTQ lifestyles. Ok for her… don’t push it on impressionable young fans!
Yeah! It’s not like people push normal lifestyles on young children ever. Nobody ever puts newborn babies in blue or pink or pierces girls ears or puts bows on their heads or let boys play with trucks and guns and girls play with dolls and cooking equipment or making sure boys act like men and don’t cry or girls aren’t registered for the armed services or boys should be doctors instead of nurses or only boys and girls dating or make sure you get married and have babies or entering them in their religion before they can even talk and make the decision for themselves. Get over yourself! People have been forcing lifestyles on children forever. If you even want to call this song forcing a lifestyle. Which you have to stretch pretty far to say so. Miranda herself isn’t homosexual, and she wrote the stinkin’ song!
There’s nothing wrong with pushing a stereotype that is “most likely” expected of you. If you’re a boy, yeah you’re most likely expected to be a man, be a protector, etc. And if you’re Girl, you’re most likely expected to be a caregiver, proper, a lady. I like this song, and I agree with 99%ol of it. But I do admit it does sound a little too much like it’s promoting all this ltbg propaganda. Or at the very least, people in that community would likely hear this as an empowering song. Maybe if she changed the word “cowboy” to “outlaw”, it would made perfect sense for what she was writing, without having a gray meaning that could be misinterpreted.
Oh she definitely is trying to gain that fan base. The song starts out with the little woman on the porch as she leaves. And in the video there’s definitely something between her and the female.
Jesse Fraser wrote the song, not Miranda!
I agree!
She isn’t pushing anything on anyone. She simply says if your daughter grows up to be a cowboy it’s okay. And it is okay. We should love our children regardless of their identity decisions when they grow up. She doesn’t push it. She just says it’s okay if it happens. And it is !!
She’s not pushing that at all. You guys are on such a basic thought level. She is not speaking about gender or LGBTQ. She is simply saying that some girls can end up being like the typical guy. “I’d be a legend at loving and leaving, nipping up whiskey and numbing up my feelings.” Because that’s what a “cowboy” does. In the beginning she says something about a lady wishing Miranda’s heart would start settling. When she talks about daughters growing up to be a cowboy she doesn’t mean literally changing genders. She means the kid doesn’t have to get married young, have 3 babies, & be the perfect stay at home mom. You guys are reading way too deep into it. If anything this song is about female empowerment and has nothing to do with transgender empowerment.
So you’re agreeing that the song is about gender identity?
No, because you can be a woman and act however you want, not fit old stereotypes and still be a woman. That’s got zero to do with gender identity. You don’t have to check out of being a woman just because you don’t like pink, gender identity ideology is misogynistic to its core.
Yes you should always love your children but if my child grows up to be LBGTQ I would not be happy with the choice she made. You can still love someone even if they are wrong from you point of view and I think it is wrong to be ok with your child being LBGTQ.
Wouldn’t she be a “cowgirl” instead of a “cowboy” or the “king” instead of the “queen?”
It’s her song, so maybe she liked cowboy better. If this bothers you or worries you then you have too much time on your hands Karen.
Good Lord! Haven’t you realized that “Karen” is no longer used to put people down? Guess not! Don’t tell people not to have an opinion YOU disagree with and then use an old, retired term as the so called kicker. You just made an a-s out of yourself by putting YOUR intolerance out for all to see.
LGBTQ…. Are you kidding me? Are you people just saying that this is the meaning behind the songs lyrics just to have something to say? Which part exactly is promoting this? Good God, it’s always something with some people. Open your ears and your mind. But even if it were “promoting” anything of the sorts – so what? Why In the world would that offend you? Why does that make you uncomfortable? I guess you think Beyoncé was promoting the same when she wrote “if I were a boy”. Music is meant to be diverse. Not every song is written for any one single persons personal listening pleasure. Sometimes it’s not about politics… hard to believe. If you don’t like the song, change the fucking station. My lord.
Don’t like this song
I dont like the song. I do change the station. Her voice is not appealing to me.,
Don’t be gay, gay is bad!!!
Shut up Becky. You hate this song so much that you had to come to comment on it. (Eye roll)
I adore Miranda Lambert and am amazed at her talent. The sad thing about this song is that she is definitely trying to be part of this “all inclusive” lifestyle which adults can figure out on their own but children can not. It does not make you the coveted “cool parent” to tell young children their gender doesn’t matter. Let them figure it out for themselves when they are old enough to deal with the dangerous people who will NOT tolerate them if they are not heterosexual. All this posturing by celebrities, athletes, politicians etc…it’s not productive to any child. Soon, being in a heterosexual relationship, marrying within the same race (regardless of the race) and telling your sons and daughters that they are boys and girls until THEY feel otherwise is going to be the unacceptable. However, it all boils down to: anyone who allows celebrities to make their decisions for them…that’s a damned stupid person. Think for yourself and stick to your beliefs. Don’t allow anyone to keep you from being you. And don’t attempt to try to fit into a very temporary society by filling young children’s heads with things they can’t possibly fathom yet.
Don’t care for the song because of what it implies. I agree with Melanie.
I agree with Melanie too. Any person is down right stupid if they let celebrities chose their life choices.
oh. my. word. i’ve never seen such stupid people in my life. literally, ALL the song is implying, is that it’s okay if a girl likes things that a guy do. grow up, boomers.
dont like it change the station listen to somebody else, but not old town road either!
Reading the comments was hilarious. Why do y’all always have to find a deeper meaning behind everything? Music is a form of art that can be interpreted in many ways. Some see it being LGBTQ+ inclusive while others see it as it’s okay for girls to like things boy do. Grow up and let people have different stances. I personally think we should be more inclusive so children feel more accepted but if others don’t cool but don’t stop others from being inclusive with their own children.
You know what I think is funny? I read this comment section and I’d just like to point out that most of the nicest, caring, go out of their way for absolutely anyone and non judgemental people are the queers, the people who listen to metal, the kids bullied because they like anime, the nerds etc. All the people ridiculed by the people who think they know how everyone should live their lives. Who judge and belittle and spew hate to those around them that do anything different than them. Who instead of letting people be happy in their short lives and be able to express themselves how they want, they want to make them sad. They say they should hate themselves. That they don’t have the same right to live as they do because they are different. It’s sad really. One person said “soon being heterosexual, marrying within your race (racist btw) and telling your sons and daughters they are boys and girls will be outdated” that’s the wrong way of thinking. The “different” people arnt trying to abolish your way of life like you are ours. We just want to live a life as free and without hate that you have the privilege of living. We arnt forcing our lifestyle on you. We just want to be seen and heard. We arnt hurting you. Other then you having to see something you arnt okay with. We arnt telling you to be something you’re not or hide. We dont want to change the life you’re comfortable living, we just want your respect to live ours. And I also have news for you. No one can teach someone else to be who they arnt. No one can teach a vegetarian to just eat meat. But we can educate young adults on ways of life they can be happy living if they choose. Instead of being hated and hiding and growing up feeling unsafe with their thoughts and hating themselves for something they don’t know is a possible way of life they can be happy and expressive. You can’t teach someone to be gay. You love who you love and that feeling can’t be tought. It’s not a choice. Hiding yourself from the hate of others because you’re not “normal”, not like the majority. Hiding so you don’t risk getting beaten or killed. Hiding who you are and sacrificing happiness to please other people who hate things they don’t understand or care enough to take the time to learn about. Those are choices. As is choosing to hate someone who only wants to be happy in their lifetime. Thinking someone’s life doesn’t matter as much as your own for whatever reason you convince yourself. That’s a choice. And having like minded hateful people to perpetuate an ongoing bullying is not proof you are right.
literally what happened here 😭