<P> The song was formerly a staple following sporting events at Oklahoma State University (home of the Cowboys), often played over the venue's PA system several times in succession as fans emptied the stadium or arena . </P> <P> The lyrics romanticize the cowboy lifestyle through references to old Westerns . The first verse references Gunsmoke, in which cowboy hero Marshall Dillon never settled down with love interest Miss Kitty . The second verse tells of his own adventures if the narrator were a cowboy: having "a sidekick with a funny name" (possibly a reference to sidekicks like Tonto or Festus or Gordito), travelling west to California (including the historical quote "Go West, young man"), hunting down Western outlaw Jesse James, joining up with the Texas Rangers, and so on . The chorus refers to famous singing cowboys Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and lists common patterns depicted in Westerns such as six shooters (revolvers) and cattle drives . </P> <P> "Should've Been a Cowboy" was Keith's first music video . It was filmed in Las Cruces, New Mexico and was directed by Marc Ball and premiered on CMT in March 1993 . A second version of the video was made featuring clips of the 1992 Dallas Cowboys . </P> <P> The song is available as downloadable content on the music video game, Rock Band . </P>

The song i should have been a cowboy