Lyrics: City Girls Don’t Know What Neutrogena Is For
By Debbie “Hayride” Harper & The Prairie Songbirds
(Verse 1)
City girls don’t know what Neutrogena is for,
They’re too busy shopping at the Sephora store,
But out on the ranch, where the work gets rough,
We need a little more than that fancy stuff.
A Farm girl’s got more grit in her pinky, no lie,
Than urban cowboys got, just passing by.
Her boots are tougher than any man’s pride,
And she’s broken in both, with nothing to hide.
(Chorus)
City girls don’t know what Neutrogena is for,
Out here, we use it after roping and more,
She’s got that ranch hand job, tough as a tree,
Neutrogena’s for hands that work, you see!
(Verse 2)
When the cattle see her coming, they fall in line,
She doesn’t need a lasso, just a look so fine,
She’s wrangling herds, baking pies by ten,
City girls can’t even handle one chicken pen!
Her idea of a spa day’s a creek soak long,
After branding and fencing, she’s singing her song.
With a heart as big as Texas and work that’s tough,
City girls wouldn’t last a day with work this rough.
(Chorus)
City girls don’t know what Neutrogena is for,
Out here, we use it after roping and more,
She’s got that ranch hand job, tough as a tree,
Neutrogena’s for hands that work, you see!
(Bridge)
She can out-ride, out-rope, outwit any guy,
While city girls are trying to keep their underarms dry,
Her spa day’s a soak in the mud, no fuss,
City girls don’t know about that, trust us!
(Verse 3)
She doesn’t need a calendar to know the day,
Counts cattle, not calories, in her own way,
Her boots hit the ground, and the work gets done,
While city girls are still trying to find the sun.
So when she grabs that Neutrogena, it’s for a cause,
For hands that have worked, no need for applause.
(Chorus)
City girls don’t know what Neutrogena is for,
Out here, we use it after roping and more,
She’s got that ranch hand work, tough as a tree,
Neutrogena’s for hands that work, you see!
(Outro)
So here’s to the cowgirls, with Neutrogena in hand,
They’re running the ranch, and owning the land,
City girls don’t know what it’s really for,
But out on the range, now it’s part of the lore.
(end)
Lore or Lure?
Either ways okay with me.
The Story Behind “City Girls Don’t Know What Neutrogena Is For”
Sept 3, 2024
Toni Davenport Interview with Alan Nafzger
Toni Davenport: Alan, your song “City Girls Don’t Know What Neutrogena Is For,” performed by Debbie “Hayride” Harper & The Prairie Songbirds, has garnered quite a bit of attention. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the lyrics?
Alan Nafzger: Absolutely. The inspiration really comes from my wife, Vicki. She’s a hardworking woman who has spent her life out on the farm, dealing with the harsh realities of that lifestyle. I remember watching her struggle to keep her skin healthy, using Neutrogena to deal with the effects of the sun and wind. At one point, she even tried making her own substitute using various dairy and oil products we had around. It was a valiant effort, but she quickly realized it was just easier and cheaper to head into town and buy the real thing.
Toni Davenport: It’s interesting to hear that your personal life influenced the song. But you mentioned this was originally a poem?
Alan Nafzger: Yes, it started as a “cowboy poem” back in 2009. I wrote it down on paper, but like many poems, it didn’t get much attention at first. It wasn’t until the SUNO platform was invented in 2024 that it really found an audience. Up until then, it was just something tucked away in a drawer.
Toni Davenport: How did the poem evolve into the song we hear today?
Alan Nafzger: Well, it sort of just happened. I’ve always felt that I have a certain knack for capturing something about the female experience, especially when it comes to farm women. I don’t claim to understand them fully—who does? But as a cowboy poet, I’ve spent my life around cowgirls, and they’re the subject of a lot of my work. It just made sense to take that old poem and turn it into a song.
Toni Davenport: You mentioned you’re around academic types of women too. How does that contrast with the farm women you write about?
Alan Nafzger: Honestly, I don’t find the academic types as interesting in this context. I’m a cowboy poet and a satirist, and my focus has always been on the rural lifestyle, where women are tough, resourceful, and resilient. That’s where my interest lies, and I think it’s what makes songs like “City Girls Don’t Know What Neutrogena Is For” resonate with people.
Toni Davenport: It sounds like your experiences and surroundings deeply influence your work. Do you think that’s what gives your songs their authenticity?
Alan Nafzger: I’d like to think so. I write what I know, and what I’ve lived. Farm life, cowgirls, and the humor and challenges that come with it—that’s where my heart is. And I think people can sense that authenticity in the lyrics.
Toni Davenport: Thank you, Alan, for sharing the story behind the song. It’s clear that your life experiences play a big role in your work, and it’s fascinating to hear how those influences come together in your music.
Alan Nafzger: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure to talk about it.
