This Cowboy Song Explained

This Cowboy Song
Cover:	Sting_This_Cowboy_Song.jpeg
Type:	single
Artist:	Sting
Recorded:	August–September 1994
Studio:	Lake House (Wiltshire, England)
Length:	5:00
Label:	A&M
Producer:	Hugh Padgham Sting
Prev Title:	When We Dance
Prev Year:	1994
Year:	1995
Next Title:	Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot
Next Year:	1996

"This Cowboy Song" is a song by English musician Sting. It is one of two new tracks included on his compilation album , alongside "When We Dance". Recorded at Lake House in Wiltshire throughout August and September 1994, the song centers around the concept of one's own mortality from the point of view of a cowboy pondering his current life.^{[1] [2]} "This Cowboy Song" was released as the album's second single on 30 January 1995, becoming a top-40 hit in the United Kingdom, Canada, Iceland, and Ireland.

Release

"This Cowboy Song" became a top-20 hit in Sting's native UK, peaking at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was not released as a single in the United States but did chart in Canada, reaching number 34 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. A music video was made for the song, directed by Howard Greenhalgh. It was filmed in Spain and featured what Sting referred to as "every cliché that's ever been filmed for a Western".^[2]

Track listings

All tracks were written by Sting.

UK CD1 and Australian CD single^[3]

1. "This Cowboy Song" (remix featuring Pato Banton) – 3:59
2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Brothers in Rhythm edit) – 4:14
3. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (A Brothers in Rhythm soundtrack) – 11:28
4. "Demolition Man" (Soulpower edit) – 3:40

UK CD2^[4]

1. "This Cowboy Song" (remix featuring Pato Banton) – 3:59
2. "This Cowboy Song" (extended remix) – 11:40
3. "When We Dance" (classic radio) – 5:07
4. "Take Me to the Sunshine" – 3:38

UK and Australian cassette single; European CD single; Japanese mini-CD single^{[5] [6] [7]}

1. "This Cowboy Song" (remix featuring Pato Banton) – 3:59
2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Brothers in Rhythm edit) – 4:14

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[8]	37
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[9]	13
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[10]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[11]	2

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	30 January 1995		A&M	^[13]
	6 February 1995	CD2		^[14]
Japan	25 February 1995	Mini-CD		^[15]

Notes and References

1. Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 . liner notes . . . 31 October 1994.
2. Sting Interview – The Last Word . Sting . VH1.
3. This Cowboy Song. Sting. 1995. UK CD1 & Australian CD single liner notes. A&M Records. 580 957-2.
4. This Cowboy Song. Sting. 1995. UK CD2 liner notes. A&M Records. 580 965-2.
5. This Cowboy Song. Sting. 1995. UK & Australian cassette single sleeve. A&M Records. 580 956-4.
6. This Cowboy Song. Sting. 1995. European CD single liner notes. A&M Records. 580 956-2.
7. This Cowboy Song. Sting. 1995. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. A&M Records. PODM-1049.
8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 7. 19. 18 February 1995.
9. Web site: "Sting". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960-30.6.21 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 247. Pennanen, Timo (2021). August 24, 2024.
10. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.3 '95 – 10.3 '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 24. 4 March 1995. 24 April 2023.
11. Web site: Sting – This Cowboy Song. Dutch Top 40. nl. 24 April 2023.
12. News: Árslistinn 1995. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 25. 2 January 1996. 24 April 2023.
13. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 27. 28 January 1995.
14. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 35. 4 February 1995.
15. Web site: ジス・カウボーイ・ソング スティング. This Cowboy Song Sting. Oricon. ja. 29 August 2023.