Here is one for the bull riders! This is a song that Roy started writing about my son after he rode in the rodeo in New Boston where Roy lives. I got to go meet Roy and we had a great time. We changed the name of the town in the song, because we felt more people could relate to Del Rio as a rodeo town more so than New Boston. Roy had this demo made out of Nashville. Thanks for listening.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7309223

A Modern Day Cowboy
By Roy Harris and Charles Kirkland
Artist: Donny Sawyer @ Affordable Recording

He pulled into Del Rio
On a hot September night
Drove two hundred miles
For an eight second ride
He told his boss he needed off
He just he had to go
He's a modern day cowboy
In a small town rodeo

Chorus
Ride cowboy ride. put your money down
You'll be back to work when Monday rolls around
And a few bumps and bruises is all you'll have to show
For a modern day cowboy in a small town rodeo

When the chute came opened
He was reachin' for the sky
He was gonna show that bull
This cowboy came to ride
But the bull had other plans
When he started spinning 'round
It was over in five seconds
When the cowboy hit the ground

Chorus
Ride cowboy ride, put your money down
You'll be back to work when Monday rolls around
And a few bumps and bruises is all you'll have to show
For a modern day cowboy in a small town rodeo

Depending on the draw
He may win or he may lose
He knows riding bucking bulls
Makes a man of you
When he hears the horn go off
And he's still on he knows
He's a modern day cowboy
Who could win that rodeo

Bridge
He dreams about Las Vegas
Or going to Cheyene
But for now it's small town rodeos
And learning all he can

Chorus
Ride cowboy ride, put your money down
You'll be back to work when Monday rolls around
And a few bumps and bruises is all you;ll have to show
For a modern day cowboy in a small town rodeo

Tag
He's a modern day cowboy
In a small town rodeo

©2009 Roy Harris/Charles Kirkland

Charles,

This is excellent in my opinion.

The music is incredible and strong vocals.

Geneva

Very cool guys - wonderfully descriptive. Man, this single line says a lot:

Drove two hundred miles
For an eight second ride



They did a nice job on the demo. Best of luck with this....

Scott

Geneva,
Thanks for taking a listen and comments. I appreciate very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I know Roy appreciates too.

Charles

Thanks Scott. Yeah they did a pretty nice demo I thought. That is my favorite line in the song too. It says a lot about the pasion one would have to have to do something like that. Thanks again.

Charles

Charles/Roy,

This gave me such nostalgia. I grew-up in Montana and Oklahoma and this sounds like the kind of song that would have been playing on the radio when I went with my dad to feed livestock. The music fits the words very nicely. I particularly liked the bridge. I also thought the lyric was really clever.

I would imagine there's a market for this one for the right type of country act. Good luck with it. Let's hope some of us modern day songwritin' cowboys get out of the small town rodeo too.

I'll add my thanks to Charles for all the nice comments. We are actively pitching it in the Texas market to see if it can find a home. Of course, I wouldn't mind it if George Strait wanted to cut it cause I think it would be a great song for him, but alas I am afraid he is out of our league and we wouldn't be able to make any inroads as far as him listening to the song.

Excellent job ... I think it is perfect and would say change nothing in it ...

great job from my take on it

Dan

Hi Charles & Roy,

Good lyrical descriptions of the sport and the production was very well done. Ride on Cowboy, Yeehah!!!

Ricki

Oh, heck yeah!

That's real country--a lost art.

Chaerles & Roy,

Great Traditional Country/Rodeo song. Not nits on the lyric or the music. The demo singer sounded a lot lke Aasron Tippin to me. It would be a great song for him, as well as George. I don't see a thing I would change.

I grew up playing lead guitar in Country and Southern Rock Bands in the 60sand 70s. Played up until the late 90s.

Ya know, although he no longer performs, as far as I know, this would work real good for Moe Bandy, too. I lived in San Antonio in the 70s and this kind of music was so hot it would burn your ears when you listened! This is about as solid as a Texas Two-Step gets. Nice job all around. Good luck with the pitch.

Alan

Wendy, Thanks for listening and the comments. Montana amd Oklahoma, that is cowboy country there now. Yeah I know what you mean about having something like this playing on the radio. My dad used to rodeo some and we listened to a lot of country and rodeo music. Thanks again.

Charles

Dan,
Thanks for the listen. Glad you enjoyed it. We really do appreciate it.

Best wishes
Charles

Thanks Ricki,
Glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, I think the guy did a heck of a good demo on it. We may have to use him again. Thanks for listening.

Charles

Thanks Jonathan. Your right about this being real country. Maybe if enough of us keep writing it they will have to start playing more of it on the airwaves...lol. I listen to SIRUS radio alot so I still get to listen to the good ole country. Thanks for listening.

Charles

Alan,
Thanks for the comments. Aarron Tippin, hmmm never thought about him. I'll bet he would be pretty good for this one. I know Moe Bandy would be. My son and I were just listening to Moe and Joe the other day. Maybe someway he'll get a hold of this. I know Roy has already sent it out to 4 or 5 different places. I'd be happy even if an independent released it..lol. Thanks again for listening and the comments. Glad you enjoyed it.

Charles

Charles/ Roy,

I really like this! Good story, catchy music, and poignant performance!

I think you've made a good decision pitching in Texas, as they say rodeo songs have slim chances in Nashville these days. Not sure why?

Only thing I would consider, if noone catches the bait, is fiddling with the main lyric hook "Modern day cowboy". Modern day sound a little awkvard to me, and would probably suggest a mature artist for this one.

But they are out there too, and a change of title could adapt it for a younger artist, too IMO.

Best of luck with it!

Thanks for the listen Magne. We appreciate the comments. I kind of know what your saying about the title I think. The song has an older sound with the title saying Modern. The kids that ride in the rodeos these days love this kind of music though, Plus, it is already done so I don't think Roy would be wanting to change anything now unless whoever wants to record it wanted to change something..lol. Thanks again for giving it a listen,

Charles

Hi Charles and Roy,

Has a Waylon influence and commercial appeal. Nothing to fault here, the lyric is very smart, this deserves some attention.

Mike

Yeeeeh Haaaaaarh

Crackin stuff fellers

Dude

Excellent production! Love the vocals, very authentic. This is really good, classic country. Great job guys!

Very well done. I like the overall sound and the integration of the vocals and music. The title does not bother me. Bill Creel and I wrote a song with a similar theme - American Dream.

Tom

Those are some great lines. This is really excellent. I would never have guessed that this was just a demo. Great work!

Brian

Hi Charles,

GREAT song. This should be on the radio, for sure.

The lyrics are great, and the music is catchy and suited to the lyrics.

Love it.

Best,
Jennifer

Mike, Thanks for the listen and the kind words. Very much appreciated and welcomed. I know you know your music, so what you say means a lot to me. Thanks again

Charles

Thanks for giving this a listen Mark. I like your enthusiasm . I'll bet you would be fun to take to a rodeo..lol.

Best wishes
Charles

Thanks Bob. Glad you enjoyed this. Your comments are very much appreciated.

Charles

Tom,
Thanks for giving this one a listen. I'll have to go and give your's and Bill's song a listen.

Thanks again
Charles

Thanks Brian. I'll have to give Roy all the credit for those lines. I agree with you too. He writes some pretty good lyrics. Thanks for the comments on the demo. It turned out to be a pretty good production.

Charles

Jennifer,
Thanks for listening and the comments. We appreciate it. I went and checked out some of your web site. You have some really neat things on there. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to go back for another visit when I have more time to stay longer.

Charles

Good Evening Charles

Excellent, I really enjoyed listening, and even though it's been a few years since I've been to a Rodeo, and No, their is no way I would get on one of those BULLS, golly gosh, too scary for me, and this Aussie girl likes to keep my feet firmly on the ground, LoL, but great fun watching the cowboys hah.

I think this song is well written and sounds fantastic, and yeah it's CATCHY.

Congratulations.

Aussie fan
Michele

Thanks Michele,
Glad you enjoyed it. There are a lot of good Aussie bull riders. I figured you to be one to give it a try...lol. Way back in the day when I was riding rodeos, there was a girl bull rider who rode better than most of the guys. You don't see it too often these days. Thanks again for the listen and the comments.

Charles

Yessir Charles, this one's a winner all the way around! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

Another group who I believe could really do this song justice is the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They may not be burning up the charts like they used to, but I had the pleasure of seeing them a couple months ago, and after 40 plus years of performing and (still) recording, they still had the chops.

Wherever this song ends up, I have no doubt it will meet with great success. It's bound to! Nice job, both of you.

Greg

Hi there fellas,

LOVE this one! Country, tried and true!!

As far as pitching opportunities, "back in the day", my Domestic Automotive Truck (and car and minivan ) account was a big sponsor of the Rodeo....and though it may still be small time in some towns, the rodeo is Big Business. Here's the link to the NPRA (National Professional Rodeo Association):

http://www.npra.com/

Maybe similarly to how John D. and Scott C. got "Opening Day" hooked up with the Phillies, you might just go straight to the top and pitch it to the bigwigs. Or you can do the onesies and twosies, have 'em play it at local shows, then let the public ask after it! It looks like a link is coming soon to the Rodeo Store, so that might be an avenue to pursue as well.

Anyway, just my two cents worth....you'd have a captive fun-loving audience....so I say, GO FOR IT!! They'll LOVE the line about travelling 200 miles for the 8-second ride!

And hey, wasn't there a professional bull-rider (married to Jewel) who was recently on "Dancing With the Stars"? Ty Murray maybe? I have no idea how that would help....but it just goes to show ya, MUSICIANS and the RODEO literally go hand in hand!

So good luck!

Beth

Greg,
Thanks for listening and the comments. Yeah, I'll bet NGDB would be good for this one. I used to listen to them a lot. I have most of their albums. A talanted group of guys with a really laid back approach to life. Thanks again for listening.

Charles

Beth,
Thanks for giving this one a listen and for the tips. I'll give them a shot and see what happens. Ty Murray doesn't live too far from me, about a two hour drive. I'll see if the NPRA will let me send them a copy also. I announce a lot of High School Rodeos from September through April, so I'll play the song at those also and see what kind of response it gets. Glad you enjoyed this and thanks again for the comments.

Charles

This is excellent exactly the way it is, Charles. I really enjoyed the listen! One very minor nit...I'd drop the 'ed' in opened -- sounds contrived and is really not necessary IMO. Take care & blessings to you and yours.
-Dave

I would like to join in with Charles and thank everyone for all the listens and nice comments. They are very much appreciated.

The "ed" is a typo. It should read "When the chute came open" We originally had it "When the chute was opened" but changed it to "came open" and that got overlooked in retyping the lyrics. But, thanks for pointing it out.

What a great song! The story is simply and well described and it really pulls the listener in. Excellent lyric, music, and vocals.

Good work, Ray and Charles. I hope you do well with this.

Donna

Good demo and story. I enjoyed the listen. Great collab!

Kevin

Dave,
Thanks for the listen. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks too for pointing out the typo. I'm not the best at proof reading...lol.


Charles

Thanks Donna,
Glad you enjoyed it and we do appreciate the comments.

Charles

Kevin,
Thanks for giving this a listen and the comments. Very much appreciated.

Charles