“John, you should’ve been a cowboy.”
While on a pheasant hunting trip, one of Toby Keith’s buddies bestowed him with some sage advice. A fellow hunter tried to dance with a cowgirl while they were dining at a steakhouse in Dodge City, Kansas, but was quickly turned away. Later, the group spotted her on the dance floor with a cowboy. His friend uttered, “You should’ve been a cowboy,” to John in jest. But the words stuck with Keith.
The country singer was in the process of completing his first album in the early 1990s, but he was experienced enough to know when the muse strikes.
All through the trip, he felt right at home in Dodge City, a historic town adorned with decor and memorabilia from America’s Wild West days. The rustic charm jogged his memory, and a beloved show from the 1950s flooded his mind.
‘The Stuff of Legend’
“Gunsmoke” graced millions of TV screens across America during its marathon run from 1955 to 1975. The program’s story took place during the country’s expansion westward in the 1870s. Audiences became acquainted with Marshal Matt Dillon and his attempts to restore order to the town of Dodge with the support of the capable and well-meaning Miss Kitty.
Ultimately, the show’s story became a fixture of cowboy culture. Keith’s first hit helps keep the fixture in place today.
On the way back from dinner, the songwriter locked himself in the bathroom of the motel room, guitar in hand. He knew his friend’s remark would make a good line in a song. He thought about “Gunsmoke,” famous cowboys, and the adventurous lives they led. As he sat on the side of the bathtub, he wrote down lyrics. The opening couplet references the cherished Western show.
“I bet you’ve never heard ol‘ Marshal Dillon say/ Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of runnin’ away?”
Then he added other references. Gene Autry, one of country music’s most recognizable cowboys, makes an appearance in the song, as well as another treasured golden-piped horseman: Roy Rogers.
I should’ve been a cowboy I should’ve learned to rope and ride Wearin‘ my six-shooter, ridin’ my pony on a cattle drive Stealin' the young girls’ hearts Just like Gene and Roy Singin' those campfire songs Woah, I should’ve been a cowboy.
American Way of Life
The singer penned his debut 1993 single in such quiet fashion, he didn’t wake up any of his friends who were sleeping in the motel room. It was for good reason. The group had another early morning hunting trip planned. While “Gunsmoke” ran for an impressive 20 years, Keith’s first No. 1 hit was written “in about 20 minutes,” he shared with country music site The Boot as he reflected on the nostalgic tune.Though Keith himself was never a cowboy, he earned his stripes on an oilfield in Oklahoma and played football before pursuing his music career full time. With the early success of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” on his self-titled debut album, he quickly became known for popular originals celebrating freedom, adventure, and boundless land—things ever important to the cowboy way of life and, often, the American way of life.
Forever Linked
Now, there’s no sleeping through “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” The quintessential Keith hit still plays across country airwaves today.
