"This Cowboy Song" is a song by English musician Sting. It is one of two new tracks included on his compilation album Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994, alongside "When We Dance". Recorded at Lake House in Wiltshire throughout August and September 1994, the song centers around the concept of one's own mortality from the point of view of a cowboy pondering his current life.[1][2] "This Cowboy Song" was released as the album's second single on 30 January 1995, becoming a top-40 hit in the United Kingdom, Canada, Iceland, and Ireland.

"This Cowboy Song"
Single by Sting
from the album Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994
Released30 January 1995 (1995-01-30)
RecordedAugust–September 1994
StudioLake House (Wiltshire, England)
Length5:00
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Sting
Producer(s)
Sting singles chronology
"When We Dance"
(1994)
"This Cowboy Song"
(1995)
"Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot"
(1996)
Audio
"This Cowboy Song" on YouTube

Release

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"This Cowboy Song" became a top-20 hit in Sting's native UK, peaking at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The song was not released as a single in the United States but did chart in Canada, reaching number 34 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart.[4] A music video was made for the song, directed by Howard Greenhalgh. It was filmed in Spain and featured what Sting referred to as "every cliché that's ever been filmed for a Western".[2]

Track listings

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All tracks were written by Sting.

UK CD1 and Australian CD single[5]

  1. "This Cowboy Song" (remix featuring Pato Banton) – 3:59
  2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Brothers in Rhythm edit) – 4:14
  3. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (A Brothers in Rhythm soundtrack) – 11:28
  4. "Demolition Man" (Soulpower edit) – 3:40

UK CD2[6]

  1. "This Cowboy Song" (remix featuring Pato Banton) – 3:59
  2. "This Cowboy Song" (extended remix) – 11:40
  3. "When We Dance" (classic radio) – 5:07
  4. "Take Me to the Sunshine" – 3:38

UK and Australian cassette single; European CD single; Japanese mini-CD single[7][8][9]

  1. "This Cowboy Song" (remix featuring Pato Banton) – 3:59
  2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Brothers in Rhythm edit) – 4:14

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 30 January 1995
  • CD1
  • cassette
A&M [20]
6 February 1995 CD2 [21]
Japan 25 February 1995 Mini-CD [22]

References

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  1. ^ Sting (31 October 1994). Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984–1994 (liner notes). A&M Records.
  2. ^ a b Sting. Sting Interview – The Last Word. VH1.
  3. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9092." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ This Cowboy Song (UK CD1 & Australian CD single liner notes). Sting. A&M Records. 1995. 580 957-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ This Cowboy Song (UK CD2 liner notes). Sting. A&M Records. 1995. 580 965-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ This Cowboy Song (UK & Australian cassette single sleeve). Sting. A&M Records. 1995. 580 956-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ This Cowboy Song (European CD single liner notes). Sting. A&M Records. 1995. 580 956-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ This Cowboy Song (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Sting. A&M Records. 1995. PODM-1049.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9128." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 7. 18 February 1995. p. 19.
  12. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). ""Sting". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960-30.6.21 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 247" (PDF). Retrieved August 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Sting feat. Pato Banton – This Cowboy Song" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.3 '95 – 10.3 '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 March 1995. p. 24. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – This Cowboy Song". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Sting – This Cowboy Song" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Sting feat. Pato Banton – This Cowboy Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  20. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 28 January 1995. p. 27.
  21. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 4 February 1995. p. 35.
  22. ^ "ジス・カウボーイ・ソング | スティング" [This Cowboy Song | Sting] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 August 2023.