That's What Cowboys Do Explained

That's What Cowboys Do
Cover:That's What Cowboys Do.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Garth Brooks
Album:Fun
Released:June 29, 2021
Genre:Country
Length:3:33
Label:Pearl
Producer:Garth Brooks
Prev Title:Shallow
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Rodeo Man
Next Year:2023

"That's What Cowboys Do" is a song by American country music singer Garth Brooks. It was released on June 29, 2021, as the fifth single from Brooks' fourteenth studio album Fun. Brooks co-wrote the song with John Martin and Mitch Rossell.[1]

Background

In an interview, Brooks said: "It was written for the boys from Midland. 'Cause I thought they would kill it. We sat down and wrote something for them, because they do a lot of George Strait-feeling stuff."[2]

Content

The song was described by CMT as a story about "timeless tale of love, heartbreak and the rodeo" and a rodeo cowboy who "falls for, then leaves, their love interest".[3] Chris Parton of Sounds like Nashville felt that the "pure-country ballad" song features "a gentle sway and a timeless theme. Brooks plays a cowboy who can't be tamed, drifting from one rodeo arena and one bed to the next."[4]

Critical reception

Katie Maloney of Outsider commented that the song has "90s country vibes".[5] Robyn Collins of Taste of Country described it as "a traditional country tune that features slide guitars and fiddles so classic that listeners can almost see boot-wearing couples making their way around the dance floor.[6]

In November 2022, the song was honored as one of the Most Performed Country Songs of 2021 at the 60th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards.[7]

Charts

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "That's What Cowboys Do"! Chart (2021)! Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 94

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Garth Brooks' 'That's What Cowboys Do' Has a Secret Third Verse. Taste of Country. Duke. Billy. August 4, 2021. October 10, 2021.
  2. Web site: Garth Brooks originally wrote his new single, "That's What Cowboys Do," with Midland in mind. ABC Audio. Liptak. Carena. July 13, 2021. October 10, 2021.
  3. Web site: Garth Brooks Releases Reflective Ballad "That's What Cowboys Do". https://web.archive.org/web/20210701164501/http://www.cmt.com/news/1835654/garth-brooks-releases-reflective-ballad-thats-what-cowboys-do/. dead. July 1, 2021. CMT. K. Dowling. Marcus. July 1, 2021. October 10, 2021.
  4. Web site: Garth Brooks Shares Classic Ballad, 'That's What Cowboys Do'. Sounds like Nashville. Parton. Chris. July 1, 2021. October 10, 2021.
  5. Web site: Garth Brooks Releases New Single 'That's What Cowboys Do' That He Calls 'So Country'. Outsider. Maloney. Katie. July 1, 2021. October 10, 2021.
  6. Web site: Garth Brooks' New Single Confirms 'That's What Cowboys Do'. Taste of Country. Collins. Robyn. July 1, 2021. October 10, 2021.
  7. Web site: Garth Brooks’ “That’s What Cowboys Do” Honored As One of the Most Performed Ascap Country Songs of 2021 . GarthBrooks.com . 24 November 2022.
  8. Web site: Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.