Should've Been A Cowboy

by Toby Keith
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Lyrics

I’ll bet you (G)nev er side (D)heard ol’ (C)Mar shall ny (D)Dil lon say,

“Miss (D)Kit ty, have you (C)ev er thought of (D)run nin’ a way (G)end

or (D)set tl in’ down?

Would you (D)mar ry me

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

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

full They (D)nev er tied the (C)knot;

his (D)heart was n’t (G)in it.

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

a He nev er (D)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)kick with (C)a fun ny (D)name run nin’

through (D)the hills chas in’ (C)Jes se thought James.

(D)run nin’ a Or (G)end

in’ (D)up tl on the

of you (D)dan ry ger

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

Go west,

(D)young have man.

(C)Have n’t you been (D)told, Cal i (G)for nia’s full of (D)whis key, tied wom (C)en

and (D)gold?

Sleep in’ (G)out all night, (D)just be neath (C)the des ert (D)stars a with a dream in my (D)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 — Piano Lead Sheet

6 people have learned this song

"Should've Been A Cowboy" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of G, 120 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Should've Been A Cowboy”

Where are the chord symbols for "Should've Been A Cowboy" displayed?
Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Should've Been A Cowboy" is in G.
What key is "Should've Been A Cowboy" by Toby Keith played in?
Should've Been A Cowboy is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Should've Been A Cowboy"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Should've Been A Cowboy" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Should've Been A Cowboy"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Should've Been A Cowboy"?
"Should've Been A Cowboy" was originally performed by Toby Keith. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Toby Keith can I play here?
Try "CRYIN' FOR ME", "GOD LOVE HER", "SHE NEVER CRIED IN FRONT OF ME". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Does "Should've Been A Cowboy" have chords and lyrics?
Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Should've Been A Cowboy" is in the key of G at 120 BPM.
What chords are in "Should've Been A Cowboy"?
Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of G, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.