This one isn’t so much of a detailed hymn to the rodeo life, but a warning for mothers everywhere about the “cowboy life” in general. The classic was first written and performed by Ed Bruce for his 1976 self-titled album and was made popular when it was covered by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson on their 1978 duet album. Although the song itself has a sense of humor, it delves into the loneliness and detachment a cowboy often faces. The Waylon & Willie version of the song peaked at No. 1 in March 1978 and spent 4 weeks on the country music charts. In 1979, the Nelson/Jennings rendition won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group.