Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys
Encyclopedia
"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" is a country music
song first recorded by Ed Bruce
, written by him and wife Patsy Bruce. His version of the song appears on his 1976 self-titled album for United Artists Records
. In late 1975–early 1976, Bruce's rendition of the song went to #15 on the Hot Country Singles charts. It is also featured in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Rose.
and Willie Nelson
covered the song on their 1978 duet album Waylon & Willie
. This rendition peaked at No. 1 in March 1978, spending four weeks atop the country music charts. It also reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and won the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
.
recorded a cover version on its album Red, White and Blue Collar. This version peaked at #49 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and was featured in the soundtrack for the movie The Cowboy Way. It also appeared on the band's second and final studio album, Red, White and Blue Collar.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song first recorded by Ed Bruce
Ed Bruce
William Edwin "Ed" Bruce, Jr. is an American country music songwriter and singer. He is known for penning the 1975 song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" .-Early life & songwriting career:...
, written by him and wife Patsy Bruce. His version of the song appears on his 1976 self-titled album for United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
. In late 1975–early 1976, Bruce's rendition of the song went to #15 on the Hot Country Singles charts. It is also featured in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Rose.
Content
The narrator warns mothers not to let their children become cowboys because of the tough and busy life of cowboy culture.Chart performance
| Chart (1975–1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 36 |
Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson version
Waylon JenningsWaylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
and Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
covered the song on their 1978 duet album Waylon & Willie
Waylon & Willie
Waylon & Willie is a duet album by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, released on RCA Victor in 1978. It was number 1 album on country charts for ten weeks. The record contains three songs sung individually by each of the two artists, as well as five duets...
. This rendition peaked at No. 1 in March 1978, spending four weeks atop the country music charts. It also reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and won the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded from 1970 to 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1970 the award was known as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 42 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Singles | 33 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 57 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 42 |
Gibson/Miller Band version
In 1994, country music group Gibson/Miller BandGibson/Miller Band
The Gibson/Miller Band was an American country music band founded in 1990 by Dave Gibson and Bill "Blue" Miller, the latter of whom was a former guest musician in rock musician Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band...
recorded a cover version on its album Red, White and Blue Collar. This version peaked at #49 on the Hot Country Songs chart, and was featured in the soundtrack for the movie The Cowboy Way. It also appeared on the band's second and final studio album, Red, White and Blue Collar.
Chart performance
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 49 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 71 |