The Cowboy Song.
April 2, 2007 – 11:11 pm -
Welcome to my entry devoted to “The Cowboy Song” originally sung by Tom Hanks in the movie Joe vs. the Volcano. Here you will find my version of the song, as well as the chords and lyrics and a little bit of information. (If you want an MP3s of Tom Hanks singing this, sorry, I can’t help you there.) However, if you just want information about the song or you’re looking for the lyrics and/or tabs, keep reading.
This is the song that made me want to learn ukulele in the first place. When my wife was pregnant with our two kids I decided that I wanted to be able to play and sing this to them, so I bought a cheap ukulele and started teaching myself chord changes and strumming patterns. Before too long, I was playing “The Cowboy Song” as well as writing my own songs.
The song was written by John Patrick Shanley for the film. I contacted Mr. Shanley and asked him if I could cover the song on a new album of children’s music, and he graciously agreed (thanks, John!). So here’s my take on the song. I figured that when Joe is singing this in the movie he’s singing a song he’d heard somewhere before, so I tried to imagine what that ‘original’ song would have sounded like. This is what I came up with (click the Play icon):
Download the MP3 of this song here. It’s also available on my album “Ukulele Jim’s Jumping Flea Circus” which is full of great music for kids and parents alike. Check it out!
Okay, that’s it for my shameless self-promotion. Now how do you play it?
There are only two chords in this song. In the movie, I think Tom Hanks plays F and C, but I also think his ukulele is tuned differently than GCEA. I play them as G and D7 which is a little better for my singing range. Pick whatever voicing works for you.
The complete lyrics and chords of the song are as below. The part in italics were in the screenplay but not in the film.
Ee he o he-o [G]cowboy
Ee he o he-o [D7]oooo
Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy
Under the [G]moon.I was ridin’ my [G]horse
by the Rio Grand[D7]ee
and all o’ them coyotes singing
in a prairie [G]symphony.I was ridin’ my [G]horse
down by the Rio Grand[D7]ee
when I seen me a cowboy, cowboy, cowboy,
ridin’ toward [G]me.Ee he o he-o [G]cowboy
Ee he o he-o [D7]oooo
Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy
Under the [G]moon.He was twirling his [G]guns
And he had a gui[D7]tar
And we sang us up a sweet old
song about love
Under the [G]starsEe he o he-o [G]cowboy
Ee he o he-o [D7]oooo
Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy
Under the [G]moon.[G]Giddyup!
If you just want to learn how to play it as an instrumental, William LaBerdia put together some tabulature here in a couple different keys for you to try.
I hope you found this information helpful, and I hope you enjoyed my version of the song. Please leave some feedback in the comments section below. Why did you visit this page today? What were you looking for, and did you find it? Do you play the ukulele? I’d love to hear from you!
Giddyap!
Posted in News | 21 Comments »
By Beni on Aug 12, 2011 | Reply
Hi Jim, I landed on your site following your bio post and comments on CD Baby recently. Love those sweet melodies and your uke playing. Well done. I also create music for kids, so I think I might have to purchase your CD.
Greetings
Ben
By Ukulele Jim on Jun 30, 2011 | Reply
@Pato: I’m not sure what kind of ukulele Tom Hanks plays in the movie. It looks like a cheap one, and I think he might have it tuned a step or two higher than re-entrant tuning. I play several different types of ukuleles, but on “The Cowboy Song” I used a KoAloha concert.
By pato on Jun 30, 2011 | Reply
hello!! im about to buy an uke and i wanted to know which one is tom hanks playing in the film!! and if you know the tuning of it!!!
By steve-o-reno on Jun 8, 2011 | Reply
Great job! This is one of my wife’s favorite songs from one of her favorite movies. So, I’ll be learning this for her. Thanks so much!
By William Bunce on Mar 25, 2011 | Reply
Absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. Puts all those rappers to shame.
By Gene on Feb 15, 2011 | Reply
What a really nice song. Easy to play and sing. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of the world. Gene
By Reuben (VERY VERY NEW) on Nov 16, 2010 | Reply
If you had those tabs that would just make my day…
By Ukulele Jim on Nov 6, 2010 | Reply
@patrick: You can download the MP3 here: http://music.ukulelej.im/track/the-cowboy-song
By patrick on Oct 6, 2010 | Reply
How do I get a download of this. I love this song, as well as the movie.
By Hodad on Sep 2, 2010 | Reply
Thanks, sweet and easy
By Ukulele Jim on Aug 14, 2010 | Reply
Thanks! See the link in the post for the MP3.
By Randolph Pritchard on Aug 14, 2010 | Reply
This is a GREAT version of this song! Where can I go to download a copy?
By Rick Lester on Aug 14, 2010 | Reply
Great song Jim. I’ll buy the album when it’s available.
By Katz on Aug 12, 2010 | Reply
I woke up with this song in my head and I was looking for the lyrics so that I could at least sing the words along with the melody in my head. So thank you for this!
Made my day.
Great version, too!
By Ukulele Jim on Jul 14, 2010 | Reply
Strum pattern is up to you. A simple “down down up down down up” would work nicely, or even “down up down up” is okay too.
Listen for the chord changes. They’re fairly obvious, and learning where they come in is part of learning to play. But here’s a hint… listen for the change on the last syllable at the end of every other line in the lyrics. If that’s still confusing, let me know and I’ll make up some tabs that show you exactly where.
By Tammie on Jul 14, 2010 | Reply
Love this song . Just got my own uke and would like to know the strum patterns and when to change chords. Could you help me? Thank You
By angie on Apr 10, 2010 | Reply
We came to your website after googling, “Joe vs the Volcano cowboy song.” My husband wanted to learn the song…this movie is his favorite of all time. We found exactly the information we were looking for!
By Aaron Allen on Jul 31, 2008 | Reply
Awesome! I loved it. I too just purchased a uke and the primary reason is that scene in “Joe Vs. the Volcano”! Thanks for having it out there for anyone to find and play!
By v on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Hey,
I just picked up the uke and I want to learn this one too. What is the strum pattern? and when do you change chords?
By Ukulele Jim on Jan 1, 2008 | Reply
Here’s a video of the Central Ohio Ukulele Coup playing The Cowboy Song at one of their get togethers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHOTk0aJYm0
They’re playing my arrangement, too!
By Pat on Apr 13, 2007 | Reply
You sound great!