Willie Nelson Records "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other"

[Maven]

I love this guy.

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."

More...

The song is available on iTunes.

Edit: DU doesn't like links to WebObjects applications, apparently. You'll have to search for the song on iTunes manually. :(

[XOKCowboy]

1. Willie is the man...

Even if you don't like his music you gotta love his politics.

[fiveleafclover]

3. Any man who can also record a song telling

record execs to kiss his ass is a hero of mine. I didn't know about this song though. :thumbsup: to Willie!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. AWESOME!

I love that song! I'm heading over to iTunes right now!

[Quetzal]

4. I thought he was just joking about that

when he mentioned it on Bill Maher...

...wow - he was actually serious :-)

Way to go Willie.

[henslee]

5. Weelie Keels Me! Reelly!

[Rowdyboy]

6. Kinky Friedman has been known to use the song in his independent run

against Gov "Goodhair" Perry.

"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 the way that 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 the way that 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 the way that he feels towards his
brother;
There's many a cowboy who keeps quiet about things he's done."

[xchrom]

7. lol -- i can't believe i'm gonna say this:

boots to the ceiling, buddy!

i love willie nelson -- and now i love him more!

[Meldread]

8. OMG LMAO...

...I can't stop laughing. I can't believe he sang that. It's funny and true all at once.

Willy is the man! :P

[Rowdyboy]

10. I really want to hear him sing the song....

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. On the "Brokeback Mountain" soundtrack...

Willie Nelson covers Bob Dylan's "He Was A Friend Of Mine." Definitely one of the most poignant songs on the album.

Added link to lyrics: http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/wasafriend.html

[Maven]

11. It is excellent.

Apparently, he wanted to do this song for the movie too, but obviously the filmmakers wanted to keep a more serious tone.