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My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

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Written by Sharon Vaughn
Key of D, with no capo to play along with the youtube video.
[Verse 1]
DI grew up dreaming of being a cowboy
GLoving the cowboy Dways
Pursuing the life of my high riding heroes
I E7burned up my childhood A7days
I Dlearned all the rules of the modern day drifter
Don't you Ghold onto nothing too Dlong
Just Gtake what you need from the Dladies
Then Gleave them the Dwords of a A7sad country Dsong
[Chorus]
My hGeroes have always been cDowboys
E7And they still are it A7seems
GSadly in search of  Dbut one step in Gback of
ThemDselves and their A7slow moving Ddreams
[Verse 2]
DCowboys are special with their own brand of misery
From Gbeing alone too Dlong
You Gcould die from the cold in the arms of a Dnightmare
Knowing E7well your best days are A7gone
DPicking up hookers instead of my pen
I let Gthe words of my years fade Daway
Old Gworn out saddles old Dworn out
MemGories with Dno one and A7no place to Dstay
[Chorus]
My hGeroes have always been cDowboys
E7And they still are it A7seems
GSadly in search of  Dbut one step in Gback of
ThemDselves and their A7slow moving Ddreams

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

This song explores the contrast between the romanticized childhood dream of being a cowboy and the harsh realities of that life. It delves into the disillusionment that comes with realizing the tough truths behind an idealized vision. Waylon Jennings recorded this track for his 1976 album, Wanted! The Outlaws. It plays like a reflection on lost innocence and the ruggedness of the cowboy spirit.

AI-written from these sources:My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (song) — Wikipedia ↗Waylon Jennings — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

by Waylon Jennings

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Written by Sharon Vaughn

Key of D, with no capo to play along with the youtube video.

[Verse 1]

I grew up dreaming of being a cowboy

G D

Loving the cowboy ways

Pursuing the life of my high riding heroes

E7 A7

I burned up my childhood days

I learned all the rules of the modern day drifter

G D

Don't you hold onto nothing too long

G D

Just take what you need from the ladies

G D A7 D

Then leave them the words of a sad country song

[Chorus]

G D

My heroes have always been cowboys

E7 A7

And they still are it seems

G D G

Sadly in search of but one step in back of

D A7 D

Themselves and their slow moving dreams

[Verse 2]

Cowboys are special with their own brand of misery

G D

From being alone too long

G D

You could die from the cold in the arms of a nightmare

E7 A7

Knowing well your best days are gone

Picking up hookers instead of my pen

G D

I let the words of my years fade away

G D

Old worn out saddles old worn out

G D A7 D

Memories with no one and no place to stay

[Chorus]

G D

My heroes have always been cowboys

E7 A7

And they still are it seems

G D G

Sadly in search of but one step in back of

D A7 D

Themselves and their slow moving dreams

About My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys Chords by Waylon Jennings

Learn how to play My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Waylon Jennings with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys chords”, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys guitar chords”, or “Waylon Jennings My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys chords and for experienced players who want accurate My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, E7, A7.

FAQ — My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Waylon Jennings

How do I play "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings on guitar?

Open the free chords for "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings free?

Yes. The chords for "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Waylon Jennings below.

What key is "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" in?

The chords for "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" show the original chord names (including D, G, E7, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.