I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart


"I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" is a country and Western song written and first recorded in 1935 by Ruby Blevins, who performed as Patsy Montana. It was the first country song by a female artist to sell more than one million copies.

Background and release

Montana wrote the song in 1934 when she was feeling lonely and missing her boyfriend; it was recorded a year later when producer Art Satherly, of ARC Records, needed one more song at a Prairie Ramblers recording session. Montana was the group's soloist at the time. Her song is based on Stuart Hamblen's western song Texas Plains: he is therefore credited as a cowriter. Patsy Montana embellished the simpler musical pattern of the original, especially with her yodeling. Patsy also used a lot of the original words: the song is somewhat of a feminine answer to its precursor.

Reception

Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. In 2012 her record was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry list of "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" American sound recordings.

Cover versions

"I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" has been recorded by, among others,

Bogguss' version peaked at #77 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1988.

Ha*Ash version

American Rock-pop duo Ha*Ash made a Spanish yodeling version of the song called "Vaquera", included in their 2005 album Mundos Opuestos. "Vaquera" was produced by Áureo Baqueiro. It was released on September 27, 2005, by Sony Music Entertainment.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.
Recording and management
Ha*Ash
Additional personnel