"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" is a song by British singer and songwriter

Kirsty MacColl Kirsty Anna MacColl (10 October 1959 – 18 December 2000) was a British singer and songwriter, daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl. She recorded several pop hits in the 1980s and 1990s, including "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He ...

, which was released in 1990 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album ''

Kite A kite is a tethered heavier than air flight, heavier-than-air or lighter-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create Lift (force), lift and Drag (physics), drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. ...

''. It was written by MacColl and produced by

Steve Lillywhite Stephen Alan Lillywhite, (born 15 March 1955) is a British record producer. Since he began his career in 1977, Lillywhite has been credited on over 500 records, and has collaborated with a variety of musicians including new wave acts XTC, Big ...

. The song reached No. 82 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Sarah Tuft.

Critical reception

On its release, Gary Crossing of ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...

'' wrote that "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" is "a delightful folksy lullaby with gorgeous harmonies, lilting country guitars and worldly wise lyrics".

Mick Mercer Mick Mercer (born Bichael Bercer, 2 June 1957) is a journalist and author best known for his books, photos and reviews of the goth, punk and indie music scenes. Life and work Mercer is primarily a writer focused on the gothic scene and its m ...

of ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'' described it as "a cornball country and western tune" which "slightly disguis sMacColl's usual cunning lyrics in there, concerning the problems with men's attitudes to women and the balance between carnal lust and sex". He added, "The type of music ensures it won't reach as many people as it might - you only like this stuff if you're unfortunate enough to actually look like

Hank Wangford Samuel Hutt, known by the stage name Hank Wangford (born 15 November 1940), is an English country and western songwriter. "Hank is a good smoke screen. He can do things I can't do. He's my clown," says Dr. Hutt, who has been struggling to bal ...

, correct? - but it's horribly good. As per bleeding usual." Edwin Pouncey of ''

New Musical Express ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' considered the song to be "a full-throated and brazenly funny singalong" and "the best C&W you'll hear this side of

Katy Moffatt Katherine Louella "Katy" Moffatt (born November 19, 1950) is an American musician, lyricist, composer, vocalist. She is the sister of country singer-songwriter Hugh Moffatt. Midnight radio Moffatt became impassioned by music as a child grow ...

". In a review of ''Kite'',

Robin Denselow Robin Denselow is a British writer, journalist, and broadcaster. Education Denselow was educated at Leighton Park School, a boys' Quaker boarding independent school (now co-educational) in Reading, Berkshire, followed by New College, Oxford, wher ...

of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' described the song as "country-style", "emotional" and "personal", with "straight talking matched against acColl'sown lap steel guitar work". Lynden Barber of ''

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

'' commented, "Though titles like 'Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!' could spell twee-ness, there's a sharpness to the lyrics and spontaneity to the playing that obviates problems." Fred Goodman of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' noted, "Tracks like 'Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!' show that MacColl has something to say with those fine pipes." L. Kent Wolgamott of the ''

Lincoln Journal Star The ''Lincoln Journal Star'' is an American daily newspaper that serves Lincoln, Nebraska, the state capital and home of the University of Nebraska. It is the most widely read newspaper in Lincoln and has the second-largest circulation in N ...

'' felt MacColl sounded reminiscent of Skeeter Davis on the "countryish" song. Fred Shuster of the ''

Los Angeles Daily News The ''Los Angeles Daily News'' is the second-largest-circulating paid daily newspaper of Los Angeles, California. It is the flagship of the Southern California News Group, a branch of Colorado-based Digital First Media. The offices of the ''Dai ...

'' wrote, "Songs like 'Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!' and 'Fifteen Minutes' are well-sung and tuneful". Tom Harrison of ''

The Province ''The Province'' is a daily newspaper published in tabloid format in British Columbia by Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network, alongside the ''Vancouver Sun'' broadsheet newspaper. Together, they are British Columbia's only ...

'' described the song as "spritely" and a "worthy sequel" to MacColl's "

There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, which was released as the lead single from her debut studio album '' Desperate Character''. The song was written by MacColl and Philip ...

Track listing

;7" single #"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" - 3:46 #"Other People's Hearts" - 3:39 ;12" single #"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" - 3:46 #" Complainte Pour Ste Catherine" - 3:31 #"Other People's Hearts" - 3:39 ;CD single #"Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" - 3:46 #"Other People's Hearts" - 3:39 #"Complainte Pour Ste Catherine" - 3:31 #"Am I Right" - 1:27

Personnel

- lead vocals, steel guitar *

Johnny Marr Johnny Marr (born John Martin Maher, 31 October 1963) is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerous ...

, Steve Turner - electric guitar *

Pete Glenister Pete Glenister is an English guitarist, songwriter and producer, known for his work with Alison Moyet and Kirsty MacColl. He has also worked with a number of other artists including Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bruce Foxton, Terence Trent D'Arby, Bros, ...

- electric guitar, acoustic guitar *

Robbie McIntosh Robbie McIntosh (born 25 October 1957) is an English guitarist. McIntosh is well known as a session guitarist and member of The Pretenders from 1982 until 1987. In 1988 he began doing session guitar work for Paul McCartney joining his band fu ...

- acoustic guitar *

Gavyn Wright Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra. He is best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions (including Elton John, Simply Red, Bush, Mecano, Oasis, ...

, Roy Gillard,

Wilfred Gibson Wilfred Gibson (28 February 1942 — 21 October 2014) was an English violinist, session musician, and early member of the Electric Light Orchestra. Early life Wilfred Gibson was born on 28 February 1942 in Dilston, Northumberland. He received ...

- violins *

Fiachra Trench Fiachra Terence Wilbrah Trench (born 7 September 1941, in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish musician and composer from Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. Trench first studied Chemistry at Trinity College, Dublin, before moving on to t ...

- string arrangement * Malcolm Griffiths - trombone *

Guy Barker Guy Jeffrey Barker, (born 26 December 1957) is an English jazz trumpeter and composer. Early life Barker was born in Chiswick, London, the son of an actress and a stuntman. He started playing the trumpet at the age of twelve, and within a year ...

, Stuart Brooks - trumpet * James Eller - double bass * David Palmer - drums, percussion Production *

- producer of "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" and "Complainte Pour Ste Catherine" * Kirsty MacColl, Colin Stuart - producers of "Other People's Hearts" and "Am I Right" * Alan Douglas, Chris Dickie - engineers * Mark Wallis - mixing Other * Bill Smith Studio - sleeve design

Charts

Cover versions

* In 2002, American singer

Kelly Willis Kelly may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kelly (Kelly Price album) * Kelly (Andrea Faustini album) * ''Kelly'' (musical), a 1965 musical by Mark Charlap * "Kelly" (song), a 2018 single by Kelly Rowland * ''Kelly'' (film), a 1981 Canadi ...

included a version of the song on her fifth studio album '' Easy''. She told ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' that year: "That's one of my favorite cuts. I love acColl'smusic, and I wore that song out. I had to think twice about doing this because of her death. I really wanted to do it justice."

References

{{authority control 1989 songs 1990 singles Kirsty MacColl songs Songs written by Kirsty MacColl Song recordings produced by Steve Lillywhite Virgin Records singles