Cowboys ain't easy to love and 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 probably just ride away.
 
[Chorus]
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys,
don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks,
let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such.
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys,
they'll never stay home and they're always alone,
even with someone they love.
 
[Verse 2] (Key Change to B)
Cowboys like smokey ol' pool rooms and clear mountain mornings,
little warm puppies and children and girls of the night.
Them that don't know him won't like him and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him.
He is not wrong, he's just different but his pride won't let him,
do the things to make you think he's right.
 
[End-Chorus]
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys,
don't let 'em pick guitars and drive them old trucks,
let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such.
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys,
they'll never stay home, they're always alone,
even with someone they love.
 
[Outro]
Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be   cowboys,