Cowboys ain't easy to love and they're harder to hold They'd rather give you a song than diamonds or gold Lonestar belt buckles and old faded levis And each night begins a new day If you don't understand him, an' he don't die young He'll prob'ly just ride away Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys 'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone Even with someone they love Cowboys like smokey old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings Little warm puppies and children and girls of the night Them that don't know him won't like him and them that do Sometimes won't know how to take him He ain't wrong, he's just different but his pride won't let him Do things to make you think he's right Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys 'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone Even with someone they love