Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)
"Faster Horses (the Cowboy and the Poet)" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in December 1975 as the second single from the album, Faster Horses. The song was Hall's final number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, spending one week at the top and a total of 13 weeks within the chart's top 40.[1]
| "Faster Horses (The Cowboy and the Poet)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Tom T. Hall | ||||
| from the album Faster Horses | ||||
| B-side | "No New Friends Please" | |||
| Released | December 1975 | |||
| Recorded | November 21, 1975 US Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Country, country rock | |||
| Label | Mercury 73755 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Tom T. Hall | |||
| Producer(s) | Jerry Kennedy | |||
| Tom T. Hall singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[2]
The song is about a young, aspiring poet who turns to a rugged cowboy for advice and inspiration. The cowboy spits tobacco on the ground and affirms his philosophy on life: "It's faster horses/younger women/older whiskey/and more money." The poet tries to dispute the man's values and said he was looking for simple inspiration, to which the cowboy strongly reaffirms his stance on life. Disillusioned, the poet tries to start a fight, but eventually realizes (at gunpoint) the cowboy may have a point and leaves poetry behind.
Chart performance
| Chart (1975–1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
Senate reference
The chorus was given in evidence to a U.S. Senate subcommittee by the banking consultant Alex Sheshunoff:[3]
Mr. Sheshunoff. ...we recently did a lot of market research on what bank customers really want from the banks they do business with. We asked them what they really wanted and what do you think is important, and what do you really want; and unfortunately, just as we were able to publish our market research, it was preempted by Mr. Tom T. Hall from Nashville, Tenn., when he said, faster horses, younger women and older whiskey.
Senator McIntyre. Say that again, faster horses, younger women and older whiskey?
Mr. Sheshunoff. And more money.
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 149.
- Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
- Statement of Alex Sheshunoff, President, Sheshunoff & Co., Austin. Federal branching policy: hearings before the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, second session.