Willie Nelson's New Song: "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other"

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 3:30pm

Willie opens closet with 'Cowboys'

Willie Nelson's crooned cowboy songs before, from the signature "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" to "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."

But never like this: On "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other," the Texas country icon sings about love among men on the range. Available exclusively at iTunes today, the song aims to show Mr. Nelson's support for gays, particularly to conservative country-music fans.

"The song's been in the closet for 20 years," Mr. Nelson said in a prepared statement. It was written in 1981 by Lubbock-born singer-songwriter Ned Sublette.

"The timing's right for it to come out. I'm just opening the door."

Mr. Nelson recorded a song for the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack, the melancholy ballad "He Was a Friend of Mine." And the movie about two cowboys in love may have provided the perfect opportunity to release this new song. But Mr. Nelson also has a personal connection to the tune.

Two years ago, David Anderson, Mr. Nelson's friend and tour manager of three decades, told his boss he's gay. Last March, while Mr. Nelson recorded a batch of previously unreleased songs for iTunes, he discovered the song in a stack of demos he had tossed into a drawer.

Singing "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other" was Mr. Nelson's way of telling a longtime pal everything was OK, says Mr. Anderson.

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/ent/columnists/mtarradell/stories/DN-cowboysong_0214gl.ART.State.Edition2.e368707.html

[suzycat]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 4:26pm

I love Willie Nelson.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 5:04pm

Willie is one cool mofo.

Akiva

[fflagg]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 5:05pm

They played it on Howard this AM. I wonder if there will be a video? Kenny Chesney could star in it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 5:48pm

It took me a while to figure out this wasn't a joke. My dad has been a Willie Nelson fan for over 20 years. He's gonna love this! I hope Frist is a Nelson fan. I would love to have a sample of the song play every time he boots up his computer.

[cturtle]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 6:14pm

ok, i have a NEW respect for someone i've always thought of as a red-neck codger.

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/14/06 at 7:24pm

Bravo to Willie. It's especially sweet since Bush likes him.

But how long before his albums begin to join the Dixie Chicks' as popular redneck kindling?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 1:14am

cturtle, Willie Nelson has always had a reputation for being one of country music's most progressive icons (and also one of the friendliest). He's pro-marijuana, pro-veganism, environmentally friendly and gay-friendly.

[cturtle]

Posted: 2/15/06 at 1:17am

yes, i know, BW ... but it's always been hard for me to LOOK at him and think of anything else ... maybe because he reminds me of my dad!

[jimmirae]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 3:26pm

When does Anderson Cooper interview him?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 3:37pm

I've loved Willie all my life. Can't wait to get this.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 6:35pm

I haven't heard the song.
But, I'm sorry, I think the title of the song is ridiculously stupid.

[DG]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 6:38pm

Priest - you only think that because you're a Sondheim snob

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 6:42pm

That is true.

But, still, a bad song title is a bad song title is a bad song title.

[forni-kate]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 6:44pm

Willie is my hero. He's just the best, and this makes him even better!

[Luscious]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 6:45pm

Posted this in a related thread, but for anyone interested, here you go. Enjoy!

The Song, "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other)", accompanied by a video montage of scenes from the movie.

http://www.screenhead.com/funny/music/cowboys-are-frequently-secretly-fond-of-each-other-154900.php

Updated On: 2/16/06 at 06:45 PM

[DG]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 6:51pm

"Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out"?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Dear, God.

[Luscious]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 7:23pm

"Well I believe in my soul that inside every man there's a feminine,
And inside every lady there's a deep manly voice loud and clear".

"Well, a cowboy may brag about things that he does with his women,
But the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer".

LOL!

Updated On: 2/16/06 at 07:23 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/17/06 at 9:18pm

There's many a strange impulse out on the plains of West Texas;
There's many a young boy who feels things he don't comprehend.
Well small town don't like it when somebody falls between sexes,
No, small town don't like it when a cowboy has feelings for men.

Well I believe in my soul that inside every man there's a feminine,
And inside every lady there's a deep manly voice loud and clear.
Well, a cowboy may brag about things that he does with his women,
But the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer.

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other
What did you think those saddles and boots was about?
There's many a cowboy who don't understand how he feels towards his brother
Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out

Ten men for each woman was the rule way back when on the prairie,
And somehow those cowboys must have kept themselves warm late at night.
Cowboys are famous for getting riled up about fairies,
But I'll tell you the reason a big strong man gets so uptight:

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other
That's why they wear leather, and Levi's and belts buckled tight.
There's many a cowboy who don't understand how he feels towards his brother;
There's many a cowboy who's more like a lady at night.

Well there's always somebody who says what the others just whisper,
And mostly that someone's the first one to get shot down dead:
When you talk to a cowboy don't treat him like he was a sister
Don't mess with the lady that's sleepin' in each cowboy's head.

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other
Even though they take speed and drive pickups and shoot their big guns;
There's many a cowboy who don't understand how he feels towards his brother;
There's many a cowboy who keeps quiet about things he's done.