Mammas Don't Let You're Babies Grow up to be Cowboys

If there was ever a simple, cowboy, campfire song this is it.  This song with a monster of a title is a classic that everyone loves hearing while sitting under the stars.   

    G      A7     D     

--3--  --0--  --2--  

--3--  --2--  --3--  

--0--  --0--  --2--  

--0--  --2--  --0--  

--2--  --0--  --0--  

--3--  --0--  --0--                                     

Chorus:

D                                          G        

Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

 

         A7                    

Don't let 'em pick guitars and ride in old trucks

 

                                   D

Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such

 

                                           G

Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

 

                A7   

They're never at home and they're always alone

 

                        D

Even with someone they love

 

Verse 1:

D                                                G        

Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold

      

         A7                                    D

They'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold

 

D                                      G

Lone star belt buckles and faded Levis, Each night begins a new day

 

      A7                       

If you don't understand him and he doesn't die young 

 

G               D                      C

He'll probably just ride away

 

Chorus:

D                                          G        

Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

 

         A7                    

Don't let 'em pick guitars and ride in old trucks

 

                                   D

Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such

 

                                           G

Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys

 

                A7   

They're never at home and they're always alone

 

                        D

Even with someone they love

 

Verse 2:

D                                                     G

A cowboy loves smoky pool rooms and clear mountain mornings

       

      A7                                           D

Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night

 

                                                        G

Them that don't know them won't like them and them that do

             

                A7                

Sometimes won't know how to take him

 

D                                                     G

He's not wrong he's just different and his pride wont let him 

 

             A7     

Do things that make you think that he's right

This song is pretty close to the Nelson plays it.  He might play it in a different key, but it will still sound just as good this way.

Home