Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys

"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 number 15 on the Hot Country Singles charts. This song was featured on Chris LeDoux's 1976 album, Songbook of the American West, and in the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game soundtrack, on the fictitious radio station K-Rose.

Members of the Western Writers of America chose the song as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.^[3]

Content

The narrator warns mothers not to let their children become cowboys because of the tough and busy life of cowboy culture.^[4]

Chart performance

Chart (1975–1976)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[5]	15
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	36

Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson version

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"

Single by Waylon Jennings with Willie Nelson

from the album Waylon & Willie

B-side

"I Can Get Off on You"^[6]

Released

January 1978

Format

7" single

Genre

Country

Length

2:31

Label

RCA

Producer(s)

Waylon Jennings
Willie Nelson

Waylon Jennings chronology

"The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)"
(1977)

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"
(1978)

"There Ain't No Good Chain Gang"
(1978)

Willie Nelson chronology

"Something to Brag About"
(1977)

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"
(1978)

"If You Can Touch Her at All"
(1978)

Waylon Jennings 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.^[6] Also in 1979, Nelson's version was featured in the film The Electric Horseman with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. This version was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks as "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Chipmunks" for their 1981 album Urban Chipmunk. It is also featured in a 2015 TV commercial for the Volkswagen Passat.

Chart performance

Chart (1978)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[7]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[8]	42
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[9]	33
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	1
Canadian RPM Top Singles	57
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks	42

Gibson/Miller Band version

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"

Single by Gibson/Miller Band

from the album Red, White and Blue Collar

B-side

"Johnny Get Your Gun"^[10]

Released

1994

Format

CD single

Genre

Country

Length

3:27

Label

Epic

Producer(s)

Doug Johnson
Blue Miller

Gibson/Miller Band singles chronology

"Stone Cold Country"
(1994)

"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"
(1994)

"Red, White and Blue Collar"
(1994)

In 1994, country music group Gibson/Miller 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.^[10] It also appeared on the band's second and final studio album, Red, White and Blue Collar.

Other versions

A version of the song by Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings was used as the theme tune for Netflix comedy The Ranch.^[11]

Chart performance

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[12]	71
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[13]	49

Preceded by "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" by Margo Smith	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single (Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson version) March 4–25, 1978	Succeeded by "Ready for the Times to Get Better" by Crystal Gayle
Preceded by "To Daddy" by Emmylou Harris	RPM Country Tracks number-one single (Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson version) March 18 – April 1, 1978	Succeeded by "I Might as Well Believe (I'll Live Forever)" by Carroll Baker
Preceded by "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Waylon Jennings	Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single of the year (Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson version) 1978	Succeeded by "I Just Fall in Love Again" by Anne Murray

References

↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 67. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
↑ Billboard. Books.google.com. 1976-10-09. p. 43. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
↑ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
↑ Randall, Alice; Carter Little; Courtney Little (2006). My Country Roots: The Ultimate MP3 Guide to America's Original Outsider Music. Thomas Nelson, Inc. p. 92. ISBN 1-59555-860-8.
↑ "Ed Bruce – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Ed Bruce.
1 2 Whitburn, p. 209
↑ Illegal name entered Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson/Waylon+Jennings+and+Willie+Nelson/chart?f=357 "Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
↑ Illegal name entered Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson/Waylon+Jennings+and+Willie+Nelson/chart?f=379 "Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
↑ Illegal name entered Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson/Waylon+Jennings+and+Willie+Nelson/chart?f=341 "Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
1 2 Whitburn, p. 159
↑ "Netflix Series "The Ranch" Showcases Worthy Country & Roots Artists". savingcountrymusic.com. April 7, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2548." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 1, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
↑ "Gibson/Miller Band – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Gibson/Miller Band.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Ed Bruce

Albums	If I Could Just Go Home (1968) Shades of Ed Bruce (1969) Ed Bruce (1976) The Tennessean (1977) Cowboys & Dreamers (1978) Ed Bruce (1980) One to One (1981) I Write It Down (1982) You're Not Leaving Here Tonight (1983) Home Coming (1984) Tell'em I've Gone Crazy (1984) Night Things (1986) Puzzles (1965) This Old Hat (2002)

Singles	"Last Train to Clarksville" "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" "Texas (When I Die)" "The Man That Turned My Mama On" "Girls, Women and Ladies" "(When You Fall in Love) Everything's a Waltz" "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had" "Love's Found You and Me" "Ever, Never Lovin' You" "My First Taste of Texas" "After All" "You Turn Me On (Like a Radio)" "Nights"

Related topics	Discography United Artists Records MCA Records RCA Records Trey Bruce Lynn Anderson Bret Maverick Fire Down Below

Waylon Jennings

Studio albums

Waylon at JD's
Folk-Country
Leavin' Town
Nashville Rebel
Waylon Sings Ol' Harlan
Love of the Common People
The One and Only
Hangin' On
Only the Greatest
Jewels
Just to Satisfy You
Waylon
Singer of Sad Songs
The Taker/Tulsa
Cedartown, Georgia
Good Hearted Woman
Ladies Love Outlaws
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Honky Tonk Heroes
This Time
The Ramblin' Man
Dreaming My Dreams
Are You Ready for the Country
Ol' Waylon
I've Always Been Crazy
What Goes Around Comes Around
Music Man
Black on Black
It's Only Rock + Roll
Waylon and Company
Never Could Toe the Mark
Turn the Page
Sweet Mother Texas
Will the Wolf Survive
Hangin' Tough
A Man Called Hoss
Full Circle
The Eagle
Too Dumb for New York City, Too Ugly for L.A.
Ol' Waylon Sings Ol' Hank
Cowboys, Sisters, Rascals & Dirt
Waymore's Blues (Part II)
Right for the Time
Closing In on the Fire
Waylon Forever
Goin' Down Rockin': The Last Recordings

Live albums

Singles

1960s

"That's the Chance I'll Have to Take" "Stop the World (And Let Me Off)" "Anita, You're Dreaming" "Time to Bum Again" "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me" "Green River" "Mental Revenge" "The Chokin' Kind" "Walk On Out of My Mind" "I Got You" with Anita Carter "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" "Yours Love" "Something's Wrong in California" "The Days of Sand and Shovels" "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"

1970s

"Singer of Sad Songs" "The Taker" "(Don't Let the Sun Set on You) Tulsa" "Mississippi Woman" "Under Your Spell Again" with Jessi Colter "Cedartown, Georgia" "Good Hearted Woman" "Sweet Dream Woman" "Pretend I Never Happened" "You Can Have Her" "We Had It All" "You Asked Me To" "This Time" "I'm a Ramblin' Man" "Rainy Day Woman" "Dreaming My Dreams With You" "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" "Can't You See" "Are You Ready for the Country" "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" "I've Always Been Crazy" "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand" "Amanda" "Come With Me" "I Ain't Living Long Like This"

1980s – 1990s

"Clyde" "Good Ol' Boys" "Storms Never Last" with Jessi Colter "Shine" "Just to Satisfy You" with Willie Nelson "Women Do Know How to Carry On" "Lucille (You Won't Do Your Daddy's Will)" "Breakin' Down" "Hold On, I'm Comin'" with Jerry Reed "The Conversation" with Hank Williams Jr. "I May Be Used (But Baby I Ain't Used Up)" "Never Could Toe the Mark" "America" "Waltz Me to Heaven" "Drinkin' and Dreamin'" "The Devil's on the Loose" "Working Without a Net" "Will the Wolf Survive" "What You'll Do When I'm Gone" "Rose in Paradise" "Fallin' Out" "My Rough and Rowdy Days" "If Ole Hank Could Only See Us Now" "How Much Is It Worth to Live in L.A." "Which Way Do I Go (Now That I'm Gone)" "Trouble Man" "You Put the Soul in the Song" "Wrong" "Where Corn Don't Grow" "What Bothers Me Most" "The Eagle" "Just Talkin'" "Too Dumb for New York City" "Wild Ones" "I Know About Me Don't Know About You" "Outlaw Shit"

Collaborations

Waylon & Willie

Albums: Waylon & Willie WWII Take It to the Limit Clean Shirt Super Hits Singles: "The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want to Get Over You)" "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" "Take It to the Limit" "If I Can Find a Clean Shirt"

Other collaborations

Country-Folk with The Kimberlys Leather and Lace with Jessi Colter Heroes with Johnny Cash Old 97's & Waylon Jennings with Old 97's

Collaboration singles

"MacArthur Park" with The Kimberlys "Suspicious Minds" with Jessi Colter "Good Hearted Woman" with Willie Nelson (Re-recording) "Suspicious Minds" with Jessi Colter (Re-release from Wanted! The Outlaws) "There Ain't No Good Chain Gang" with Johnny Cash "Wish I Was Crazy Again" with Johnny Cash "The Wild Side of Life/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" with Jessi Colter "Leave Them Boys Alone" with Hank Williams Jr. and Ernest Tubb "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" with Johnny Cash "Ballad of Forty Dollars" with Johnny Cash "Somewhere Between Ragged and Right" with John Anderson "High Ridin' Heroes" with David Lynn Jones "One Good Love" with Neil Diamond

Compilations

The Best of Waylon Jennings
Don't Think Twice
Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line
Heartaches by the Number
Greatest Hits
Waylon's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
The Best of Waylon
New Classic Waylon
Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line: The RCA Years
The Journey: Six Strings Away
The Journey: Destiny's Child
The Restless Kid: Live at JD's
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Waylon Jennings
RCA Country Legends
Ultimate Waylon Jennings
16 Biggest Hits
Nashville Rebel
The Essential Waylon Jennings

Willie Nelson singles discography

1950s
and
1960s

1957	"No Place For Me" / "Lumberjack"

1959	"Man With the Blues" / "The Storm Has Just Begun"

1960	"What a Way to Live" / "Misery Mansion" "Nite Life" / "Rainy Day Blues"

1961	"The Part Where I Cry" / "Mr. Record Man"

1962	"Willingly" / "Chain of Love" "Touch Me" / "Where My House Lives" "Wake Me When It's Over" / "There's Gonna Be Love In My House" "You Dream About Me" / "Is This My Destiny"

1963	"Half a Man" / "The Last Letter" "Take My Word" / "Feed it a Memory"

1964	"How Long is Forever" / "You Took My Happy Away" "Am I Blue" / "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" "River Boy" / "Opportunity to Cry" "I Never Cared For You" / "You Left Me (A Long Time Ago)" "Pretty Paper" / "What A Merry Christmas This Could Be"

1965	"She's Not For You" / "Permanently Lonely" "Healing Hands of Time" / "One Day at the Time" "I Just Can't Let You Say Goodbye" / "And So Will You, My Love"

1966	"One In A Row" / "San Antonio Rose" "Colombus Stockade Blues" / "He Sits at my Table" "I'm Still Not Over You"/ "I Love You Because"

1967	"The Party's Over" / "Make Way for a Better Man" "Blackjack County Chain" / "Some Other World" "San Antonio" / "To Make a Long Story Short"

1968	"Little Things" / " Sweet Memories" "Good Times" / "Where Do You Stand" "Johnny One Time" / "She's Still Gone"

1969	"Bring Me Sunshine" / "Don't Say Love or Nothing" "I Hope So" / "Right or Wrong"

1970s

1970	"Once More With Feeling" / "Who Do I Know in Dallas" "Laying My Burdens Down" / "Truth Number One"

1971	"I'm a Memory" / "Fire and Rain" "Yesterday's Wine" / "Me and Paul"

1972	"Words Don't Fit the Picture" / "A Moment"

1973	"Shotgun Willie" (mono) / "Sad Songs and Waltzes" "Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)" / "Devil in a Sleepin' Bag"

1974	"I Still Can't Believe You're Gone" / "Heaven and Hell" "Bloody Mary Morning" / "After the Fire is Gone"(with Tracy Nelson) "Sister's Comin' Home" (mono) / "Pick Up The Tempo"

1975	"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" / "Bandera"

1976	"Remember Me (When the Candle Lights Are Gleaming)" / "Time of the Preacher" "I'd Have to Be Crazy" (mono) / "Amazing Grace" "If You've Got the Money I've Got the Time" / "The Sound in Your Mind"

1977	"Uncloudy Day" / "Precious Memories" "I Love You A Thousand Ways" / "Mom and Dad's Waltz"

1978	"Georgia on My Mind" / "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" "Blue Skies" / "Moonlight in Vermont" "All of Me" / "Unchained Melody"

1979	"Whiskey River" / "Under the Double Eagle" "September Song" / "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" "White Christmas" / "Blue Christmas"

1980s

1980	"Help Me Make It Through the Night" / "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33" "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" / "Rising Stars" "Midnight Rider" / "So You Think You're A Cowboy" "On the Road Again"/ "Jumpin' Cotton Eyed Joe"(performed by Johnny Gimble)

1981	"Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" / "I Guess I've Come to Live Here in Your Eyes" "Mona Lisa" / "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" / "Over the Rainbow" "Heartaches of a Fool" / "Uncloudy Day"

1982	"Always on My Mind" / "The Party's Over" "Let It Be Me" / "Permanently Lonely" "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning" / "Old Fords and a Natural Stone"

1983	"Little Old Fashioned Karma" / "Beer Barrel Polka" "Why Do I Have to Choose" / "Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" "Take It to the Limit" / "Till I Gain Control Again" "Without a Song"

1984	"City of New Orleans (Unedited version)" / "Why Are You Pickin' On Me"

1985	"Forgiving You Was Easy" / "You Wouldn't Cross the Street" "Me and Paul" / "I Let My Mind Wander"

1986	"Living in the Promiseland" / "Bach Minuet in G" "I'm Not Trying to Forget You" / "I've Got the Craziest Feeling"

1987	"Partners After All" / "Home Away From Home" "Heart of Gold" / "So Much Like My Dad" "Island in the Sea" / "There is no Easy Way"

1988	"Nobody There But Me" / "Wake Me When It's Over" "Spanish Eyes" (with Julio Iglesias) / "Ole Buttermilk Sky" "Twilight Time" / "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"

1989	"Nothing I Can Do About It Now" / "If I Were a Painting" "There You Are" / "Spirit" "Is The Better Part Over" / "Mr. Record Man"

1990s

1990	"The Highway" / "Spirit" "Ain't Necessarily So" / "I Never Cared For You" ("Ain't Necessarily So" also on CD Single)

1991	"The Piper Came Today" / "(I Don't Have a Reason) To Go To California Anymore" ("The Piper Came Today" also on CD Single) "Ten With a Two" / "You Decide"

1993	"Graceland" "Still is Still Moving to Me" / "Valentine"

1995	"Turn Me Loose and Let Me Swing"

1998	"I Never Cared for You"

2000s
and
2010s

2002	"Mendocino County Line" (with Lee Ann Womack) / "Maria (Shut Up and Kiss Me)" (Both single tracks released on CD and 7" record)

2003	"Wurlitzer Prize" (with Norah Jones) "Beer for My Horses" (with Toby Keith)

2005	"I'm a Worried Man" (with Toots Hibbert) "The Harder They Come"

2006	"You Don't Know Me" "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other"

2008	"Gravedigger" "You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore"

2011	"The Scientist"

2012	"Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" "Just Breathe" "Come On Back Jesus"

2013	"From Here to the Moon and Back" (with Dolly Parton) "Grandma's Hands" (with Mavis Staples) "It Won't Be Long" (with The Secret Sisters) "Somewhere Between" (with Loretta Lynn)

2014	"The Wall" "Bring It On" "Laws of Nature" "Who'll Buy My Memories"

2015	"It's All Going to Pot"

Book:Willie Nelson
Category:Willie Nelson

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