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cowboy like me storyline and lyric breakdown — a thread
in taylors words, this song is about “two young con artists who fall in love while hanging out at fancy resorts trying to score rich romantic beneficiaries”
“and the tennis court was covered up in some tent-like thing, and you asked me to dance but i said ‘dancin is a dangerous game.’”
there is an outside reception being held at one of the fancy resorts, and this young guy asks her to dance, but she knows she shouldn’t
there is an outside reception being held at one of the fancy resorts, and this young guy asks her to dance, but she knows she shouldn’t
“oh i thought this is gonna be one of those things now i know i’m never gonna love again”
she has a moment of realization and realizes she’s had a “gold rush” moment with this guy and doesn’t know if she’ll ever get over this feeling
she has a moment of realization and realizes she’s had a “gold rush” moment with this guy and doesn’t know if she’ll ever get over this feeling
“i’ve got some tricks up my sleeve takes one to know one, you’re a cowboy like me never wanted love just a fancy car”
they’re both “cowboys” trying to swindle money out of the old rich people hanging around the resort, and he probably isn’t looking for a relationship
they’re both “cowboys” trying to swindle money out of the old rich people hanging around the resort, and he probably isn’t looking for a relationship
“now i’m waiting by the phone like i’m sitting in an airport bar you had some tricks up your sleeve, takes one to know one”
she’s hanging on to everything he does and says but still thinks he’s tricking her, so she just waits
she’s hanging on to everything he does and says but still thinks he’s tricking her, so she just waits
“perched in the dark telling all the rich folks anything they wanna hear like it could be love, i could be the way forward only if they pay for it, you’re a bandit like me”
this verse explains what they do and how they flirt with the “rich folk” so they will give them money
this verse explains what they do and how they flirt with the “rich folk” so they will give them money
“eyes full of stars hustling for the good life never thought i’d meet you here it could be love”
they both keep getting sidetracked from their hustle for the good life because they’re both starting to fall in love with the other
they both keep getting sidetracked from their hustle for the good life because they’re both starting to fall in love with the other
“we could be the way forward and i know i’ll pay for it”
these lyrics are a direct contrast to the previous verse when she says “i could be the way forward only if they pay for it,” instead saying “we” are going forward and moving on, “i’ll” pay for it, not the rich folk
these lyrics are a direct contrast to the previous verse when she says “i could be the way forward only if they pay for it,” instead saying “we” are going forward and moving on, “i’ll” pay for it, not the rich folk
“and the skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up”
they both have past trauma and issues that should have prevented them from getting together, but they’ve managed to overcome all odds and make it work
they both have past trauma and issues that should have prevented them from getting together, but they’ve managed to overcome all odds and make it work
“the old men that i’ve swindled really did believe i was the one and the ladies lunching have their stories about when you passes through town”
they both have their baggage in terms of the people they’ve scammed and there’s a lot of stories about the two of them
they both have their baggage in terms of the people they’ve scammed and there’s a lot of stories about the two of them
“but that was all before i locked it down”
in reference to all their old schemes, she says that was all before and she’s locked him down and they’re going to make a new path for themselves
in reference to all their old schemes, she says that was all before and she’s locked him down and they’re going to make a new path for themselves
“now you hang from my lips like the gardens of babylon”
reference to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the hanging gardens of babylon. the tables have turned, she used to wait on him at the phone, now he hangs from her lips
reference to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the hanging gardens of babylon. the tables have turned, she used to wait on him at the phone, now he hangs from her lips
“with your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con”
his boots are beneath her bed because he constantly spends the night with her, and implies they will be together for the rest of their life and how finding her soulmate was the best con she ever accomplished
his boots are beneath her bed because he constantly spends the night with her, and implies they will be together for the rest of their life and how finding her soulmate was the best con she ever accomplished
“i’m never gonna love again”
she’s found the love of her life, she never needs to go back out and be a “cowboy” again because she’s found something permanent.
she’s found the love of her life, she never needs to go back out and be a “cowboy” again because she’s found something permanent.
