Saddle Sores

Saddle Sores is a song from The Residents' Buckaroo Blues suite, written in 1987 and likely recorded in 1988.

Background

The song was written by The Residents after becoming inspired by a collection of genuine cowboy poems in 1987. They recorded it in November of 1988, around the time of its first live performance at the Boudisque 20th Anniversary Party.

The song showcases the glorified version of the cowboy mythos, as told from the perspective of a child imagining growing up to become a cowboy. This is intended to strongly contrast with the cowboy tales of loss and loneliness as shown in the suites opening songs.

Following the songs recording and the Boudisque performance, the track, along with the Buckaroo Blues suite was performed in March of 1989 on German Television. In July of that year, the suite was included as the opening to their Cube-E tour, where it would be performed until the tours conclusion in November of 1990.

Lyrics

Oh I would be a cowboy, 
And with the cowboys stand,
Leather chaps upon me and a six-gun in my hand.

I'd ride a full-stamped saddle, 
A silver-mounted bit,
With ponchos big as dollars, 
Silver spurs to fit;

And out upon the round-up, I'd ride a bucking horse
And spur him in the shoulder, with my silver spurs, of course.

Releases

• Buckaroo Blues (1989)
• Buckaroo Blues & Black Barry (1989)
• Cube-E Live In Holland (1990)
• In Memoriam Torso (1994)
• Cube-E (2006)
• CUBE E Dynasone 3EZ (2011)
• Cube-E Box (2020)