Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Well before Ashton Kutcher’s Colt and Danny Masterson’s Rooster spiral towards whatever madcap antics they have planned for the day on Netflix’s The Ranch, fans are greeted by the dulcet voices of Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings singing the country music classic “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” Not only is this song a perfect tonal fit for the series, but it also touches on one of the major themes of The Ranch: fathers and sons.
Originally recorded by Ed Bruce in 1975, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings’ 1978 cover of the song reached number one on the country music charts on its way to capturing the 1979 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Fast forward 37 years and Lukas and Shooter, the sons of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, respectively, are covering the song their legendary fathers helped make famous. Circle of life, man. But the rich history of the tune doesn’t end there.
Aside from a 1994 version of the song recorded by Gibson/Miller Band, Alvin and the Chipmunks also covered the single for their 1981 album, Urban Chipmunk. You can listen to Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and an exasperated Dave perform “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboy (Chipmunks)” right here.
If the Alvin and the Chipmunks version of the country tune isn’t exactly leaping onto your Spotify playlist, here are the lyrics and music video to Lukas Nelson and Shooter Jennings’ version of “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”
“Cowboys ain’t easy to love and they’re harder to hold
They’d rather give you a song than diamonds or gold
Lonestar belt buckles and old faded Levi’s
And each night begins a new day
If you don’t understand him, and he don’t die young
He’ll prob’ly just ride away
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys
Don’t let ’em pick guitars or drive them old trucks
Let ’em be doctors and lawyers and such
Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys”
The music supervisor for The Ranch, Frankie Pine, already had a wealth of experience in enhancing a series through country music before joining the Netflix sitcom. Pine previously spent four years as the music supervisor for ABC’s country music drama Nashville, and her trademark country aesthetic is prevalent throughout the first season of The Ranch. Along with the classic western theme song and singles from Kenny Chesney and Florida Georgia Line, season one also features familiar country tunes like Billy Currington’s “Drinkin’ Town With a Football Problem,” Luke Bryan’s “Rain Is A Good Thing,” and Kacey Musgraves’ “Family is Family.” You can savor each and every country hit from the first season of The Ranch with this Spotify playlist.
