I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart

"I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" is a country and Western song written and first recorded in 1935 by Rubye Blevins, who performed as Patsy Montana. It was the first country song by a female artist to sell more than one million copies.^[1] Montana wrote the song in 1934 when she was feeling lonely and missing her boyfriend; it was recorded a year later when producer Art Satherly, of ARC Records, needed one more song at a Prairie Ramblers recording session.^[2] Montana was the group's soloist at the time. Her song is based on Stuart Hamblen's western song Texas Plains: he is therefore credited as a cowriter. Patsy Montana embellished the simpler musical pattern of the original, especially with her yodeling. Patsy also used a lot of the original words: the song is somewhat of a feminine answer to its precursor.

External audio

"I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart" , performed by Patsy Montana, Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.^[3] In 2012 her record was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" American sound recordings.^[2]

Cover versions

"I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" has been recorded by, among others, Rosalie Allen, in a 1940s yodeling version,^[4] Patti Page (as a single)^[5] Suzy Bogguss (on her 1989 album Somewhere Between), the Dixie Chicks (on their 1990 debut album Thank Heavens for Dale Evans), Lynn Anderson (on her 1992 album Cowboy's Sweetheart), LeAnn Rimes (on her 1994 album All That),^[6] Nickel Creek on their 2003 album Little Cowpoke, Phish (performed in 1996 and released in 2007 on Vegas 96) and Cyndi Lauper featuring yodeling from Jewel (on her 2016 album "Detour"). Rock-pop Mexican duo Ha-Ash made a Spanish yodeling version of the song called "Vaquera" (Cowgirl) included in their 2005 album Mundos opuestos.

Bogguss' version peaked at #77 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1988.

References

1. ↑ "Patsy Montana's Vest and Skirt". HistoryWired: A few of our favorite things. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2012-08-03. 
2. 1 2 "The National Recording Registry 2011". National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. Library of Congress. May 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-03. Her song's lively, quick polka tempo and yodeling refrain, and Montana's exuberant delivery, resulted in it being requested at every performance; it became one of the first hits by a female country and western singer. 
3. ↑ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. 
4. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/song/i-want-to-be-a-cowboys-sweetheart-mt0035733977
5. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-singles-1946-1952-mw0002086079
6. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/unchained-melody-the-early-years-mw0000087933