Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)
"Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in December 1975 as the second single from the album, Faster Horses. The song was Hall's final number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, spending one week at the top and a total of 13 weeks within the chart's top 40.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
The song is about a young, aspiring poet who turns to a rugged cowboy for advice and inspiration. The cowboy spits tobacco on the ground and affirms his philosophy on life: "It's faster horses/younger women/older whiskey/and more money." The poet tries to dispute the man's values and said he was looking for simple inspiration, to which the cowboy strongly reaffirms his stance on life. Disillusioned, the poet tries to start a fight, but eventually realizes the cowboy may have a point and leaves poetry behind.
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by Tom T. Hall
Faster Horses
by: Tom T. HallHe was an old time cowboy
Don't you understand
His eyes were sharp as razor blades
His face was leather tanned
His toes were pointed inward
From a hangin' on a horse
He was an old
Philosopher of course
He was so thin I swear
You could have used him for a whip
He had to drink a beer
To keep his breeches on his hips
I knew I had to ask him
About the mysteries of life
He spat between his boots
And he replied
"It's faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey
More money"
He smiled and all his teeth
Were covered with tobacco stains
He said, "It don't do men no good
To pray for peace and rain"
"Peace and rain is just
A way to say prosperity
And buffalo chips is all
That means to me"
I told him I was a poet
I was lookin' for the truth
I do not care for horses
Whiskey women or the loot
I said I was a writer
My soul was all on fire
He looked at me
And he said you are a liar
"Son, it's faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey
More money"
Well, I was disillusioned
If I say the least
I grabbed him by the collar
And I jerked him to his feet
There was somethin' cold
And shiny laying by my head
So I started to believe
The things he said
Well, my poet days're over
And I'm back to bein' me
As I enjoy the peace a
And comfort of reality
If my boy ever asks me
What it is that I have learned
I think that
I will readily affirm
"Son, it's faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey
More money"
Faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey
More money
Faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey
More money
It's faster horses
Younger women
Older whiskey