mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
just let 'em play at war...and get way too rough
let 'em be sloppy and macho and tough
mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
if coddled at home, they'll be dead on their own
that doesn't mean you can't love

cause it ain't sissy to love, but you must not control
cause a mother does a boy, wrong, if killin' his soul
a boy needs his knuckles, when dealin' with wise guys
boys fight and get into frays
and if you should reprimand him, his spirit dies young
and probably just fades way

mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
just let 'em play at war...and get too rough
let 'em be sloppy and macho and tough
mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
if coddled at home, they'll be dead on their own
that doesn't mean you can't love

young boys like smokin' in pool rooms, and brawls without warning
they'll be eruptin' with venom and quarrel every night
and those that annoy him...he'll strike 'em
and though, he'll lose sometimes
its better than shakin'...its just wrong to be wimpy
and his pride won't put up with things, John Wayne might feel, not right

mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
just let 'em play at war...and get too rough
let 'em be sloppy and macho and tough
mamas, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies
if coddled at home, they'll be dead on their own
that doesn't mean you can't love