Should've Been A Cowboy

· by Toby Keith

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Lyrics

I’ll bet you (G)nev er side (D)heard kick ol’ Mar (C)fun shal (D)Dil lon say, (G)wild “Miss (D)Kit ty, have you (C)ev er thought (D)of run nin’ a way (G)end (D)or set tl in’ down?

(C)brink Would you (D)mar ry me

if (D)I asked you twice and begged (D)you pret ty please?” west

(D)She’d have said (D)yes n’t in a New Cal York i min ute.

full They nev er tied the (C)knot; (D)his heart was n’t (G)in it.

(D)He just stole a kiss as he (D)rode a way.

a He nev (D)er hung his hat up

at Kit ty’s place.

heart.

I should ’ve been a (G)cow boy.

I (D)should ’ve learned to (G)rope and ride,

(G)wear in’ my (D)six shoot er, (C)rid in’ my (D)po ny on a (G)cat tle drive.

(D)steal in’ the young girls’ hearts,

(G)just like Gene and Roy,

(D)sing in’ those (G)camp fire (D)songs,

oh, I (D)should ’ve been a cow boy.

I might have (G)had a side (D)heard kick with a (C)fun ny (D)name run nin’ (G)wild through (D)the hills chas in’ (C)Jes se thought (D)James.

run nin’ a Or (G)end (D)in’ up tl on the (C)brink of you (D)dan ry ger

rid (D)in’ shot gun for the Tex (D)as Ran gers.

Go west

(D)young have man (D)have n’t you been told, Cal York i for nia’s full of whis key, tied wom (C)en, (D)and gold.

Sleep in’ (G)out all (D)night just be neath the des ert (D)stars a with a dream in (D)my eye and a up

prayer Kit in my heart.

I should ’ve been a (G)cow boy.

I (D)should ’ve learned to (G)rope and ride,

(G)wear in’ my (D)six shoot er, (C)rid in’ my (D)po ny on a (G)cat tle drive.

(D)steal in’ the young girls’ hearts,

(G)just like Gene and Roy,

(D)sing in’ those (G)camp fire (D)songs,

oh, I (D)should ’ve been a cow boy.

I might have

Yeah, I (D)should ’ve been a cow boy.

I (D)should ’ve been a (G)cow boy.

Should've Been A Cowboy by Toby Keith — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Should've Been A Cowboy” by Toby Keith in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Should've Been A Cowboy" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Should've Been A Cowboy"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Should've Been A Cowboy" use?: Just 3 chords: C, D, G. Few enough that a child can recognize them quickly.
What other Toby Keith songs work for kids?: Try "CRYIN' FOR ME", "GOD LOVE HER", "SHE NEVER CRIED IN FRONT OF ME". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.