"The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy"

"The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" is a song by Randy Newman and Chris Stapleton for the 2019 film Toy Story 4.
==Lyrics==
I was a lonesome cowboy
Lonesome as I could be
You came along, changed my life
And fixed what was broken in me
I was a lonesome cowboy
I didn't have a friend
Now I got friends comin' out of my ears
I'll never be lonesome again
You can't be happy when you're all by yourself
Go on, tell me I'm wrong (You're wrong)
When someone takes you down from the shelf
And plays with you some, it's wonderful (Wonderful)
I was a lonesome cowboy
But not anymore
I just found out what love is about
I've never felt this way before
I was a lonesome cowboy
But not anymore
==Background==
Randy Newman, known for his work as composer and songwriter on the Toy Story films, was confirmed to be returning for Toy Story 4. "The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy", the film's main single, written by Newman and performed by Chris Stapleton, was revealed and released on June 5, 2019. The song is performed through the perspective of Sheriff Woody, the film's main character, because, according to Newman, "Woody feels like he was a lonesome cowboy until someone comes along and changes his world." Newman was particularly pleased by the fact that Stapleton performs the song, while Stapleton felt that "it's a tremendous honour to get to sing a Randy Newman song in what is without question one of the most iconic animated franchises in history.
==Reception==
Rania Aniftos of Billboard praised the song's melody as "catchy". Nick Evans of CinemaBlend positively compared the song to Newman's previous songs from the Toy Story films, writing: "In keeping with the tradition of Toy Story songs, Randy Newman’s “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy” is equal parts tear-jerking and heart-warming". Similarly, Ming Lee Newcomb of Consequences of Music compared the song to Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me" from the original film, writing that "the charming Western ballad is similarly feel-good and kid-friendly". Angela Stefano of The Boot wrote that "not only is Pixar making childhood dreams come true with the release of a new Toy Story movie, they're making country music dreams come true, too" praising Newman's lyrics as "heartfelt yet childlike" and Stapleton's singing as "instantly recognizable".
Category:Toy Story
Category:Songs
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