It reached number # 1 on the US Hot Country Songs charts, remaining 16 weeks on the charts. It also reached # 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. The song was included in Tom's thirteenth studio album, Faster Horses (Mercury 1976).
Faster Horses (The Cowboy and The Poet)
“Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet)”, a song written and recorded by Tom T. Hall for the Mercury label, on November 21, 1975, in U.S. Recording Studio, 12 Music Circle Sq., Nashville, TN, in the same recording session were recorded, three other songs were also recorded: Beer drinkers waltz, Big motel on the mountain and No new friends please. In the recording session Tom was accompanied by: Jerry Kennedy (guitar), Pete Wade (guitar), Ray Edenton (guitar), Chip Young (guitar), Harold Bradley (guitar), Pete Drake (steel), Bob Moore (bass), Buddy Harman (drums), Hargus Robbins (piano), Charlie McCoy (harmonica), George Tidwell (trumpet) and vocal chorus. With the production of Jerry Kennedy, the song was released in December 1975. On March 20, 1976, It reached number # 1 on the US Hot Country Songs charts, remaining 16 weeks on the charts. It also reached # 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. It was the seventh number one in Tom T. Hall's career.
The song was included in Tom's thirteenth studio album, Faster Horses (Mercury 1976), released in early 1976, on June 5, 1976, reached # 3 on the US Top Country Albums charts and remained a total of 17 weeks in the charts.
About the song:
The song is about a young and aspiring poet who turns to a sturdy cowboy for advice and inspiration. The cowboy spits tobacco on the ground and affirms his philosophy about life: “These are faster horses / younger women / older whiskey / and more money.” The poet tries to dispute the values of man and says he was looking for a simple inspiration, to which the cowboy firmly reaffirms his position on life. Disillusioned, the poet tries to start a fight, but finally he realizes (at gunpoint) that the cowboy can have a point and leaves poetry behind.
Miquel Batlle Garriga
mbatllegarriga@gmail.com
Tom T. Hall - Faster Horses (The Cowboy and The Poet) lyrics
He was an old-time cowboy, don't you understand
His eyes were sharp as razor blades
His face was leather tan
His toes were pointed inward from a-hangin' on a horse
He was an old philosopher, of course
He was so thin I swear you could have used him for a whip
He had to drink a beer to keep his britches on his hips
I knew I had to ask him about the mysteries of life
He spit between his boots and he replied
"Son, it's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money."
He smiled and all his teeth were covered with tobacco stains
He said, "It don't do men no good to pray for peace and rain
Peace and rain is just a way to say prosperity
And buffalo chips is all it means to me."
I told him I was a poet, I was lookin' for the truth
I do not care for horses, whiskey, women or the loot
I said I was a writer, my soul was all on fire
He looked at me an' he said, "You are a liar."
"Son, it's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money."
Well, I was disillusioned, if I say the least
I grabbed him by the collar and I jerked him to his feet
There was something cold and shiny layin' by my head
So I started to believe the things he said
Well, my poet days are over and I'm back to being me
As I enjoy the peace and comfort of reality
If my boy ever asks me what it is that I have learned
I think that I will readily affirm
"Son, it's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money." (repeat as song fades)
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