Rodeo Man - Garth Brooks Lyrics
Rodeo Man
Garth Brooks]
All broke down and banged up
Been laid up a couple weeks
Had my share of bad lucks
Hard falls and drawin' deep
[Verse 2: Ronnie Dunn]
I'll be back in no time, ladies
I'm one buckle shy of Vegas
Or pawn shop hockin' these spurs
[Chorus: Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn]
Pull up them boots, ease me down in that chute
Tie me on tight, bet it all on one good ride
Get me off this thing alive, get me eight, Lord, that's the plan
It's just a day in the life of a rodeo man
[Verse 3: Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn]
Cold water truck stop showers
Been rode hard and put up wet
Yeah, four more uphill hours
To show 'em that I ain't dead yet
[Chorus: Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn]
Pull up thеm boots, ease me down in that chutе
Tie me on tight, bet it all on one good ride
Get me off this thing alive, get me eight, Lord, that's the plan
It's just a day in the life of a rodeo man
Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn]
Hooked hard on the habit
Livin' for one good ride
Like a fox on the tail of a rabbit
I'm chasin' that buckaroo life
[Chorus: Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn]
Pull up them boots, ease me down in that chute
Tie me on tight, bet it all on one good ride
Get me off this thing alive, get me eight, Lord, that's the plan
It's just a day in the life of a rodeo man
[Outro]
It's just a day in the life of a rodeo man
Song Facts
- Genre: Country
- Featured Artist: Ronnie Dunn
- Lyricist: Phil O'Donnell & Ronnie Dunn
- Arranged by: Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn
- Composers: Phil O'Donnell & Ronnie Dunn
- Producers: Garth Brooks & Ronnie Dunn
- Release Date: November 6, 2023
- Album: Time Traveler (2023)
Song Annotations
The song Rodeo Man by Garth Brooks and Ronnie Dunn is all about capturing the rugged, harsh existence of a rodeo cowboy. This piece shows, with extraordinary vividness, the hardship and thrill of these modern-day gladiators. Through its verses, the song outlines the physical and emotional toll of the rodeo circuit.
In the opening verse, Garth Brooks sings of a rodeo cowboy who's been "all broke down and banged up." This line alone draws attention to the physical injuries common in this demanding sport. The performer speaks of being "laid up a couple of weeks," denoting the need for time to recuperate from everyday accidents.
Ronnie Dunn continues the storyline by talking about how driven and ambitious a rodeo cowboy is: "Gotta get to Fort Worth" and "one buckle shy of Vegas." These lines portray the travel and destinations in the life of a rodeo cowboy. The mention of "pawn shop hockin' these spurs" shows that even some of the most successful rodeo performers have financial difficulties. The chorus, performed by both Brooks and Dunn, sums up the life of a rodeo man. "Pull up their boots, ease me down in that chute, tie me on tight, bet it all on one good ride" pretty much says exactly what goes down in every ride: the preparation and high stakes associated with the act.
The phrase "Get me eight, Lord, that's the plan" refers to riding a bucking bull for eight seconds, which is the traditional timed duration for a compelling ride in rodeo competitions.
Moving into the third verse, the singers keep going about "cold water truck stop showers" and being "rode hard and put up wet" as a metaphor for their fatigue or being worn out. The reference to "four more uphill hours" only further illustrates their lack of respite in the constant travel and work needed to stay in the game.
The addictive nature of rodeo life is represented in this fourth verse. "Hooked hard on the habit, livin' for one good ride," says rodeo is much like an addiction, something tough to break away from. Imagery that compares rodeo cowboys to "a fox on the tail of a rabbit" shows the chase and excitement of the unknown that keeps rodeo cowboys returning for more.
Song Topics as Personal Reflection Rodeo Man is a song that delves deep into themes of resilience, passion, and the fight for glory. It describes the life of a rodeo cowboy—a life of unstoppable fire with the grit and drive of one's life. The lyrics are very resilient in nature since they show how one cowboy can bear the pain and defeat coming with this ride only for the mere thrilling excitement, with the hope to come out at the top. And in this song, to anyone chasing a dream, it's about the epitome of everything you've sacrificed and gone through just to be successful. The blend of Brooks and Dunn's vocals this makes it sound very forthright and emotional, such that the story of the rodeo cowboy goes directly to the heart of the listener.