1993: Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” Gets A Football-Themed Twist
Rog / YouTube
1993 gave us more than just mullets and neon windbreakers. It was the year Toby Keith released his hit song “I Should Have Been A Cowboy” and a football-inspired rendition of the song.
Toby’s Keith’s Dallas Cowboys-inspired rendition of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” was filmed as a Monday Night Football promo. In the video, Toby Keith rocks a permed mullet and a vintage Cowboys jacket and as the music starts to play.
According to the video posted on YouTube, his remix went a little something like this, “I might of had an OG with a funny name, throw a down field block watching Emmett’s play, looking up through the roof at the Texas star, a dream in my eye and a prayer in my heart. I should have been a cowboy! I should have learned to play with pride! Wearing my silver star marching down a field on a TD drive. Stealing a young girl’s heart, just like Rog and Troy, playing for America’s team. Oh, I should have been a cowboy!”Â
The video features clips of Toby performing as well as footage from Cowboys games of yesteryear, beloved coach Tom Landry, then-coach Jimmy Johnson and many Dallas Cowboy greats. At the time, the Dallas Cowboys were fresh on the heels of back-to-back Super Bowl wins under the leadership of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. The Cowboys hype was unlike anything we’ve seen since and Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” song fueled the excitement.
The song was performed in December 1993 at Texas Stadium during halftime. The Dallas Cowboys were facing off against their arch-rivals, the Washington Redskins. The song didn’t just entertain; it ignited a fire. The Cowboys went on to win the game with a smashing score of 38-3. That’s just the kind of motivation and effect Toby Keith’s music had on folks at the time.
About The Song “Should’ve Been A Cowboy”
“Should’ve Been A Cowboy” was Toby Keith’s debut single, released on February 12, 1993. It’s a song that captures the essence of the cowboy lifestyle, with references to Westerns and legends like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. The song’s popularity soared, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and even making a crossover splash on the Billboard Hot 100.
Flash forward to today, and “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” remains a constant part of the Cowboy football team’s culture. At football games, the song is often played over the loudspeakers and everybody sings along, especially the fans.
MORE: Toby Keith Sings “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” During A Recent Surprise Appearance
So there you have it – a glimpse into the world of Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” Dallas Cowboys version. Watching the video is certainly a nostalgic journey back in time when mullets were cool and the Cowboys ruled the field. Whether you’re a country music fan or a die-hard Cowboys fan, or just someone looking to relive a slice of ’90s goodness, this rendition is bound to strike a chord and leave you humming along.
