Cowboy (Kid Rock song)

"Cowboy" is a fusion of hip hop, country, southern rock and heavy metal.^[2] Billboard, and Kid Rock himself, described the song as a cross between Run DMC and Lynyrd Skynyrd.^[4][3] AXS called it the first country rap song,^[2] but its also been described as rap rock^[6][7] and alternative rock.^[8] The instrumentation includes Jew's harp, blues harmonica and a piano solo which quotes the Doors song "L.A. Woman".^[9][3] The lyrics feature Kid Rock rapping about moving to California to become a pimp, and start an escort service "for all the right reasons", located at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel, as well as getting thrown out of bars and buying a yacht.^[3][10]

In 2002, new wave band Boys Don't Cry filed suit against Kid Rock, claiming that "Cowboy" was derivative of their 1986 novelty song "I Wanna Be a Cowboy". They alleged Kid Rock, while DJing in Detroit, had played the song; the suit claimed that he took the bassline and adapted his chorus from the track.^[11]

"Cowboy" was named one of "The Ten Worst Songs About Cowboys" by the Houston Press,^[12] while other critics and journalists have called it one of Kid Rock's best songs, including writers for AXS and Billboard.^[2][3][4]

The Village Voice writer Chaz Kangas called "Cowboy" a classic song, writing, "in the Clinton era, when your most viable pop stars were pristine teen-pop sensations, raucous nu-metal antagonists or alternative-to-alternative-to-alternative rock weirdos, Rock stood alone. It's been a surprising 15 years since, but 'Cowboy' remains one track from this era that's timeless without even trying to be."^[13]

"Cowboy" is considered to be the first country rap song, and was influential on the music styles described as "hick-hop" and "bro country".^[2][4] Cowboys & Indians claims that "Cowboy" had a major impact on the country music scene; the magazine alleges that artists Jason Aldean and Big & Rich, among others, were influenced by the song's country rap style.^[1]

Kid Rock performed the song at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. Country singer Kenny Chesney has covered the song in concert in 2009 and 2016, the latter with Kid Rock on Chesney's Spread the Love Tour.^{[14][15][16][17][18]} In 2017, Kid Rock joined country singer Chris Janson on stage for mashup of Janson's song "Buy Me A Boat" and "Cowboy".^[19]

• Kid Rock – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar, piano, harp
• Bobby East – slide guitar, electric guitar
• Matt O'Brien – bass guitar
• Stefanie Eulinberg – drums
• Misty Love – background vocals
• Shirley Hayden – background vocals