Bob Dylan’s Interest in Cowboys: From Ballads to Boots

Bob Dylan has always had a deep-rooted fascination with the imagery of the American West, cowboys, and outlaws. This interest has permeated his music, personal style, and even his forays into film. From his early folk ballads to his country-inspired albums and on-screen cowboy personas, Dylan has embraced the mythos of the cowboy in multiple ways.

November 23, 1972: Having taken a small role in the film, Dylan arrives in Durango, Mexico to begin shooting of the legendary Western director Sam Peckinpah’s film Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid.

Bob Dylan played a small but memorable role in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), a revisionist Western directed by Sam Peckinpah. The film tells the story of the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid (played by Kris Kristofferson) and his former friend-turned-lawman Pat Garrett (James Coburn), who is tasked with hunting him down.

Dylan’s Role: Alias

Dylan made his acting debut in the film as a character named Alias, a mysterious drifter with no clear backstory. He is a quiet but observant figure, tagging along with Billy and his gang. Though he doesn’t have a major role in the story, his presence adds to the film’s enigmatic and poetic atmosphere.

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Cowboy – Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s BAR ROOM COWBOY painting

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Bob Dylan wears a cowboy hat and a flannel shirt, ca. 1972

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Bob Dylan has several songs with a cowboy or Western feel. Here are some notable ones:

1. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” – Written for the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) soundtrack, this song captures the spirit of an old Western tale.
2. “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts” – From Blood on the Tracks (1975), this long narrative song feels like a Western outlaw story.
3. “Billy” – A song from the Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) soundtrack, inspired by the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid.
4. “Wanted Man” – Written by Dylan for Johnny Cash, this outlaw-themed song fits right into the cowboy aesthetic.
5. “Romance in Durango” – From Desire (1976), a dramatic song about an outlaw escaping to Mexico.
6. “Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)” – From Street-Legal (1978), a song that evokes images of dusty Western landscapes and mystery.

Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour ~ Gene Autry’s Cowboy code

Bob Dylan – Ain’t Talkin’ [Tribute to the Western]