Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?

"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" is a song by American artist Paula Cole. It was released in March 1997 as the lead single from her second studio album, This Fire. The song is Cole's only top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number eight, and was her first top-ten hit in Canada, where it reached number seven. It was additionally a critical success, earning nominations for three Grammy awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song helped Cole become the recipient of the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"
Single by Paula Cole
from the album This Fire
B-side"Hush, Hush, Hush"
ReleasedMarch 25, 1997
Recorded1996
Length
  • 4:26 (album version)
  • 3:47 (album edit/radio version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Paula Cole
Producer(s)Paula Cole
Paula Cole singles chronology
"I Am So Ordinary"
(1995)		 "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"
(1997)		 "I Don't Want to Wait"
(1997)
Audio sample
"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" on YouTube

Style and theme

The song traces the stages of a tragic romance. The first two verses explore infatuation and discovery; a bridge expresses disillusionment, and a final verse changes to despair. A brief transition and chorus that repeats the song's title follows each verse, and questions the loss of the narrator's idyllic dream of spending her lifetime with a Western-styled hero. The song is written in 4/4 time and maintains a minor key throughout. The verse score is minimalist and includes only low, rasping vocals by Cole with percussion accompaniment, while the choral transitions, chorus, and bridge use the full instrumentation and Cole's mezzo-soprano range.

Accolades

The song received Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (losing to Sarah McLachlan's "Building a Mystery"), Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (losing both to "Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin).

Music video

The video was directed by Caitlin Felton. It is simple, primarily featuring Cole in the foreground singing or posing for the camera, while her band plays in the background. These shots are augmented by various shadowy or obscure images of people walking, sitting at a table, sitting in a car and riding a horse. There are several points where the video looks grainy, adding to the effect of the song.

The video was nominated for Best Female Video at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, losing to Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me".

Charts

References
  1. "Australian-charts.com – Paula Cole – Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  2. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3224." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  3. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3261." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  4. "Offiziellecharts.de – Paula Cole – Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  5. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.5. '97 – 7.5. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 2, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  6. "Charts.nz – Paula Cole – Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?". Top 40 Singles.
  7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  9. "Paula Cole Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  10. "Paula Cole Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  11. "Paula Cole Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  12. "Paula Cole Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  13. "Paula Cole Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  14. "Paula Cole Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  15. "Paula Cole Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  16. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  17. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  18. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  19. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Retrieved August 28, 2010.
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