Should've Been A Cowboy

by Toby Keith
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

I’ll bet you (G)nev er side (D)heard ol’ Mar shal (D)Dil lon say, “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 i min ute.

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

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

a He nev (D)er 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 with a ny (D)name run nin’ 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 i for nia’s full of whis key, tied wom (C)en, (D)and gold.

Sleep in’ (G)out all (D)night be neath the des ert (D)stars a with a dream in (D)my 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 — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

14 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "Should've Been A Cowboy" by Toby Keith: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of G, 100 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”

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 100 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 chords are used in "Should've Been A Cowboy"?
This arrangement uses 3 chords: C, D, G. Only a handful of chords — beginner-friendly.
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.
Is there a karaoke version of "Should've Been A Cowboy" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Should've Been A Cowboy" by Toby Keith. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Should've Been A Cowboy" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in G, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Should've Been A Cowboy" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.