He Wants Ya to Be More City?
By Debbie “Hayride” Harper & The Prairie Songbirds
He Wants Ya to Be More City? – Music and Lyrics by Alan Nafzger
[Verse 1]
You fell off your horse, girl, are you okay?
That don’t just happen, no, not every day.
Maybe you’re thinkin’ ‘bout more than cattle,
Let’s head to town, talk it out over ice cream.
You’ve been ranchin’ in boots, tryin’ to settle down,
But that farm boy don’t know love from a hole in the ground.
[Pre-Chorus]
He wanted you to be a little more city?
Oh honey, you’re too real, you’re way too gritty.
[Chorus]
Drop him like a sterile bull, headin’ to slaughter,
Ain’t no use in a man who don’t know country is hotter.
Drop him like a pair of dirty shorts in the dirt,
Ain’t no cowgirl need to get hurt.
He wanted you to change, wanted you to hide,
But you’re a country girl, don’t dim your pride.
Drop him like a sack a cubes in the winter,
Time to show him how cowgirls are winners.
[Verse 2]
He wants you in heels, not boots covered in dirt,
But we both know who’ll come out hurt.
You’re built for the saddle; don’t take him in tow,
Ain’t no reason you should stoop that low.
He’s tryin’ to change you, make you forget,
But cowgirl, us two, we ain’t been tamed yet.
[Pre-Chorus]
He wanted you to be a little more city?
Girl, you know he ain’t worth the pity.
[Chorus]
Drop him like a sterile bull, headin’ to slaughter,
Ain’t no use in a man who don’t know country is hotter.
Drop him like a pair of dirty shorts in the dirt,
Ain’t no cowgirl need to get hurt.
He wanted you to change, wanted you to hide,
But you’re a country girl, don’t dim your pride.
Treat him like what a cow drops out in the field,
Time to show him how cowgirls really deal.
[Bridge]
He’s all hat, no cattle, just another corn growin’ fool,
But you’re wild, you’re strong, you need ta’ break every rule.
He’s a broken tractor
You can’t repair.
Drop him like he’s yesterday’s news,
Cowgirls like you don’t lose.
[Chorus]
Drop him like a sterile bull, headin’ to slaughter,
Ain’t no use in a man who don’t know country is hotter.
Drop him like a pair of dirty shorts in the dirt,
Ain’t no cowgirl need to get hurt.
He wanted you to change, wanted you to hide,
But you’re a country girl, don’t tip your hat.
Drop him like a wrench under a broken tractor,
Time to show him how cowgirls can factor.
[Outro]
So saddle up, girl, ride tall and free,
A farmer’s girl ain’t what you need to be.
Drop him like a sterile bull, leave him behind,
There’s better out there for a cowgirl to find.
———-
SPOKEN: He Wants Ya to Be More City? …
What? …
Well, that’s bull!!!
I hope you told him so.
MEANING: He Wants Ya to Be More City?
The song “He Wants Ya to Be More City?” cleverly echoes the classic Western movie rivalry between farmers and cattlemen, both in theme and tone. In the old Western films, there was often tension between two camps: the settled, crop-growing farmers and the nomadic, free-ranging cattlemen. This tension reflected a broader clash of lifestyles, values, and economic survival, much like the conflict presented in the song between the cowgirl and her romantic interest, a “farm boy.”
Lifestyle Clash: City vs. Country
In the song, the cowgirl’s advice to another woman revolves around rejecting a romantic partner who wants her to “be a little more city.” This demand is akin to the cattlemen versus farmers conflict, where one group tried to impose their way of life on the other. The farm boy’s desire for the woman to become more refined or urban reflects the same kind of friction that arose when cattlemen encroached on farmlands or when farmers fenced off open ranges. It’s a clash between independence and taming, much like cattlemen who valued open, free-range land, while farmers favored enclosed, controlled fields. In the song, the cowgirl’s independence mirrors the cattlemen’s resistance to domestication, while the farm boy represents the restrictive, settled nature of farming life.
Symbolism: The Sterile Bull
The song’s central metaphor, “drop him like a sterile bull,” taps into the same hard-nosed practicality found in Western films. Cattlemen thrived on strong, virile herds, and a sterile bull was of no use, much like the farm boy who doesn’t understand the cowgirl’s way of life. This metaphor directly reflects the economic and emotional pragmatism seen in Westerns, where survival often meant making tough choices about what stays and what goes. In both the films and the song, there’s a clear message that romanticized ideals or unsuitable partners—or livestock—have no place in a rugged, demanding lifestyle.
Self-Reliance and the Role of Women
Just as women in Western films were often tough, self-reliant figures who ran ranches and supported their families, the cowgirl in the song embodies the spirit of these characters. The farm boy’s desire for her to soften or conform to a more urban lifestyle is met with firm resistance, much like the female characters in Westerns who didn’t fit the traditional mold. The cowgirl gives advice to drop the relationship, symbolizing her unwillingness to be “fenced in” by someone who doesn’t value her true nature—just as cattlemen refused to be restricted by fences or farmers’ rules.
In summary, “Drop Him Like a Sterile Bull” echoes the classic Western rivalry between farmers and cattlemen, with its themes of independence, resistance to conformity, and pragmatic decision-making. The song blends humor with the tough realities of relationships, much like how Western films combined grit with a sense of freedom.
