Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other

Queerguru’s favorite country song Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other” was originally recorded by Latin country musician Ned Sublette, back in 1981. Now its been re-recorded by the unusual pairing of Orville Peck and Willie Nelson and probably much to Queerguru’s neigbor’s annoyance, we simply cannot stop playing it.

Nelson received a tape of the song fromi in mid 1980s. According to Sublette, Nelson said, “I thought it was the funniest goddamn song I’d ever heard. I had it on the bus for 20 years, and people would come in and I’d play it. When Brokeback Mountain come out, it just seemed like a good time to kick it out of the closet”.

This new version is the first song from Peck’s upcoming two-part project Stampede, which consists of duets with other musicians.

Behind Peck’s signature mask is Daniel Pitout, a queer South African country musician based in the United States. He released his debut album Pony in 2019, followed by the EP Show Pony the next year. Like any good country artist, Peck writes about heartache. He sings for lost loves and men who have done him wrong. In fact, much of “Bronco” his second album was inspired by a relationship that ended just before the pandemic. “I was very depressed and felt uninspired,” Peck explains. “So I forced myself to go into the studio every day for six to eight hours and work on new music.” But he seems to have recovered well now

The Lyrics

Well, there’s many a strange impulse out on the plains of West TexasThere’s many a young boy who feels things he can’t comprehendAnd a small town don’t like it when somebody falls between sexesNo, a small town don’t like it when a cowboy has feelings for men

And I believe to my soul that inside every man, there’s the feminineAnd inside every lady, there’s a deep manly voice loud and clearWell, a cowboy may brag about things that he’s done with his womenBut the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each otherSay, what do you think all them saddles and boots was about?And there’s many a cowboy who don’t understand the way that he feels for his brotherAnd inside every cowboy, there’s a lady that’d love to slip out

And there’s always somebody who says what the others just whisperAnd mostly that someone’s the first one to get shot down deadSo when you talk to a cowboy, don’t treat him like he was a sisterYou can’t fuck with a lady that’s sleepin’ in each cowboy’s head

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each otherWhat do you think all them saddles and boots was about?And there’s many a cowboy who don’t understand the way that he feels for his brotherAnd inside every lady, there’s a cowboy that wants to come outAnd inside every cowboy, there’s a lady that’d love to slip out