Pantera - Cowboys From Hell

Pantera - Cowboys From Hell - Meaning of the song

"Cowboys from Hell" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. First appearing on the band's 1989 demo album, the song is the band's first single.

Pantera's vocalist Phil Anselmo recalled on an episode of That Metal Show that during a 1989 house party in Fort Worth, Texas, guitarist Dimebag Darrell arrived late and ran towards Anselmo and said he had a new riff to show him. The two of them went into Abbott's car where he played the intro to Anselmo, who said afterward to Abbott, "Yes, this must be an anthem."

Drummer Vinnie Paul explained the concept:

"With the full-blown Pantera sound, Cowboys was when everyone came into their own," "That was actually the first song we composed for the record." It was essentially about us coming from Texas and feeling out of place. People don't think of Texas when they think of heavy metal; they think of New York or Los Angeles or anything similar, so it felt like a natural fit for us.

Cowboys From Hell - Lyrics

Under the lights where we stand tall Nobody touches us at all Showdown, shootout, spread fear within, without We're gonna take what's ours to have Spread the word throughout the land They say the bad guys wear black We're tagged and can't turn back You see us comin' And you all together run for cover We're taking over this town Here we come reach for your gun And you better listen well my friend, you see It's been slow down below, Aimed at you we're the cowboys from hell Deed is done again, we've won Ain't talking no tall tales friend 'Cause high noon, your doom Comin' for you we're the cowboys from hell Pillage the village, trash the scene But better not take it out on me 'Cause a ghost town is found Where your city used to be So out of the darkness and into the light Sparks fly everywhere in sight From my double barrel, 12 gauge, Can't lock me in your cage You see us comin' And you all together run for cover We're taking over this town Here we come reach for your gun And you better listen well my friend, you see It's been slow down below, Aimed at you we're the cowboys from hell Deed is done again, we've won Ain't talking no tall tales friend 'Cause high noon, your doom Comin' for you we're the cowboys from hell