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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Willie Nelson joins gay cowboy party

Posted by JEN GRAVES on February 15 at 9:47 AM

According to the Dallas Morning News, Willie Nelson has had a gay cowboy song in the closet for quite some time, but has finally released it to show support for gay rights and for his friend and tour manager of 30 years, David Anderson, who finally came out to Willie two years ago. The song is available exclusively on iTunes. Its title, uh, rolls right off the tongue: “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.”

According to the DMN, “Singing ‘Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other’ was Mr. Nelson’s way of telling a longtime pal everything was OK.” But if everything is so OK down there in Tejas, why did it take this longtime pal so long to come out to his boss? And why didn’t his boss release the song before the hit movie with the two hot stars making out? Even Willie Nelson wants to ride Brokeback.

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1

I heard an interview on NPR 2 or 3 years ago with the guy who wrote the song, who said Willie was going to record it. I believe Willie was already performing the song in his concerts at that time.

I feel like having new gay-affirming art/media comming out in a mass one playing off the other pushing into the main stream has got to have more positive impact that a periodic eccentric drip-drip.

Posted by ChetBob | February 15, 2006 10:39 AM

2

actually, willie sings on the soundtrack during the movie.

Posted by um | February 15, 2006 11:46 AM

3

you never delayed coming out to someone who just shrugged? or heard of someone who thought coming out to a given person would be hard, but then, it was not a big deal?

well, ok then, here is story for you, so you don't have this problem again:

i waited about four years to come out to my mom, waiting until i moved out so that when the shit hit the fan, i wouldn't have to live in the mess. so at 18 when i finally had the big talk with my mom, she just said, "oh," and then we finished watching the weather report. never a word of complaint and not a tear - this from a devout catholic with seven kids. surprise.

Posted by huh? | February 15, 2006 11:53 AM

4

Isn't there a Pansy Division song by the same name?

Posted by Carl Ballard | February 15, 2006 1:20 PM

5

That'd be Ned Sublette who wrote that ditty. He's also quite the authority on Cuban music and the Cuban-African musicl connection. You can read about him at this page in the AllMusic Guide:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:n9508qmtbtq4~T00

Posted by MadDog13 | February 15, 2006 1:58 PM

6

Yeah, the track first appeared on a Giorno Poetry Records compilation. Ned put out an entire LP in the 80's of acapella cowboy music (music of the SouthWest). He's a real smart guy. The song referenced above is more of a novelty song. His "Nice Young Mormons" is also great.

Posted by R. T. in SF | February 15, 2006 2:28 PM

7

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8

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9

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10

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Posted by tommy | April 20, 2006 12:52 AM

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