Cover Story: boygenius’ Somber Cover of The Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away
boygenius’ cover of a ‘90s country classic may not be as rustical or spirited as the original, but their gloomy disposition helps carry the song's weight to a new generation of listeners.
Written by Jencie Tomasek
Photos courtesy of Nate Ryan and James Minchin
In country music, there is certainly no shortage of songs about cowboys and the rugged Western lifestyle. In 1999, members of The Chicks threw their cowboy hats in the ring with the rest after releasing the single “Cowboy Take Me Away” from the trio’s fifth studio album, Fly. It was a hit on the radio, with the touching lyrics showcasing a preference for a simple, slower lifestyle and a sense of longing, adding to the album’s nostalgic feel.
Complex and adventurous, “Cowboy Take Me Away " is complex and adventurous,” and captures the essence of a deep yearning for freedom and adventure. “I said, "I wanna touch the earth / I wanna break it in my hands / I wanna grow something wild and unruly / I wanna sleep on the hard ground / In the comfort of your arms / On a pillow of bluebonnets / In a blanket made of stars" paints vivid images of wide-open spaces and the magic of a meaningful connection. The country ballad’s touching melody reflects a longing not just for romance, but also for an escape from the complexities of contemporary life which boygenius can relate to amidst all of today’s complications. Within the broader narrative of personal independence and female empowerment on Fly, “Cowboy Take Me Away” speaks to listeners seeking comfort in familiar themes of love and longing central to country music.
The Chicks, made up of Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer, had humble beginnings in the late ‘80s Dallas, Texas. The Chicks cemented itself as a bonafide country act after its commercial success with its fourth studio album, Wide Open Spaces in 1998. The trio navigated boycotts and backlash from fans in the early 2000s amid political comments about America and President Bush’s involvement in Iraq. After taking a hiatus from the less-than-pleasant responses from fans, the group released its seventh studio album, Taking the Long Way in 2006 in response to the backlash and saw themselves on the top of the charts again. The band went on to release music for the first time in 14 years with the album Gaslighter after changing its name in 2020. Known for the band member’s rich, three-layer harmonies, Maines’ powerful, controlled voice, and Maguire and Strayers’ instrumental prowess, the group has a total of 13 Grammys and have become one of the most widely-recognized all-female bands spanning across musical genres.
The Chicks - Cowboy Take Me Away (Live at VH1 Storytellers)
“Cowboy Take Me Away” is a romantic ballad about escaping to the country with a cowboy. The chorus is a resplendent joining of Maines, Maguire, and Strayers’ voices: “Cowboy, take me away / Fly this girl as high as you can, into the wild blue / Set me free, oh, I pray / Closer to Heaven above and closer to you / Closer to you.” Maines’ effortless vocals, along with Maguire’s fiddle and Strayer’s banjo, add to the track’s craving feeling that makes listeners want to escape to great wide fields. Sung with such raw sincerity, the string instruments and steel guitar keep the song rooted in nostalgia and warmth. The song doesn’t overpower itself or show off, with each twang and pluck adding an essential component, allowing it to soar. The steady beat peaks with Maines’ composed and calm lyrical delivery and Maguire’s intricate and effortlessly played fiddle solo. It's a perfect sentimental blend without dripping in sugar.
boygenius, an indie collaboration composed of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus, covered “Cowboy Take Me Away” on November 24, 2018, live on KEXP. The supergroup transformed the lively ballad full of sweet passion and country twang into a soft and moody tune more reminiscent of a somber lullaby.
Their harmonious vocals layer seamlessly, creating an intimate atmosphere that deepens the song's emotional depth of getting to enjoy life without the fast-paced hustle of the city: “I wanna walk and not run / I wanna skip and not fall / I wanna look at the horizon / And not see a building standing tall” and allows the lovelorn lyrics to shine. This reinterpretation highlights the original’s timeless quality while showcasing the trio's unique ability to infuse songs with their signature melancholic sound, making the classic resonate with a new generation of listeners.
The cover maintains some of the original elements with its drawn-out violin intro. Steady acoustic guitar and tender background instrumentals help lift their voices as each member covers a few lines in a hollow way that makes space for soft echoes in typical boygenius fashion. There’s no denying the trio has mastered the art of harmonizing, melding their voices in a way that creates an ethereal quality.
While Maines delivers a more raw and powerful belt, boygenius opts for a softer, quieter approach. Maines and Dacus’ lyrical delivery for the track is simple and striking. “I wanna be the only one / For miles and miles / Except for maybe you / And your simple smile.” Dacus’ understated presentation emphasizes that true happiness often resides in life’s little moments. Each artist captures a different essence of longing — Maines infuses her rendition with passionate urgency, while boygenius highlights a gentle introspection. boygenius lacks the rich, deep voices that The Chicks sing with, missing their sharpness and clarity in pitch. While boygenius’ airy timbre works with their original music, their style is slightly dissonant from the typical components commonly heard in country music. boygenius’ decision to forego the gradual increase in loudness that The Chicks use as they sing the chorus a final time allows their voices to fade in a way that The Chicks’ version doesn’t.
The Chicks’ perform with more energy and liveliness, and you can tell they enjoy performing the song live with smiles and audience interaction from the VH1 Storytellers performance. The Chicks bring an infectious energy and enthusiasm to their performance, clearly enjoying every moment as they engage with the audience, smile, and bring the song to life during their VH1 Storytellers set.
Authentic storytelling is the thesis of country music rather than a flashy show of artistic talent. Even the fiddle and banjo swell with hope through the progression of The Chicks’ version. In comparison, boygenius sings with breathier deliveries, fitting the weightlessness of its version of the song, but unfitting when compared to the passionate and conviction-filled delivery The Chicks deliver. boygenius’ tone is mellow, calming, and easy on the ears, even if listeners can barely hear Bridger’s vocals as the instruments nearly swallow her wispy words. While both versions keep the iconic fiddle solo, there’s less verve from boygenius, harmoniously matching the melancholic tone of its version. The version a listener enjoys most depends on what mood they want to be in when listening to “Cowboy Take Me Away”: hopeful and unbounded or mournful and heavy-hearted.
boygenius’ cover of The Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away” is infused with a softer, more reflective emotion, differing from the original's romantic and wistful feel. While they may differ, both versions offer listeners a soundscape perfect for listening to while driving through the countryside.