Don't Fence Me In
Cole Porter
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Wildcat Kelly, lookin' mighty pale Was standin' by the Sherriff's side And when that Sherriff said, "I'm sending you to jail" Wildcat raised his head and cried Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above Don't fence me in Let me ride through the wide open country that I love Don't fence me in Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees Send me off forever but I ask you please Don't fence me in Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle Underneath the western skies On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder Till I see the mountains rise I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences Don't fence me in Wilcat Kelly, back in town again Was standin' by his Sweetheart's side And when his Sweetheart said, "Come on, let's settle down" Wildcat raised his head and cried Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies Don't fence me in Let me ride through the wide open country that I love Don't fence me in Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees Send me off forever but I ask you please Don't fence me in Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle Underneath the western skies On my Cayuse, let me wander over yonder Till I see the mountains rise I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences Don't fence me in
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Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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12 facts about this song
Song Production Details"Don't Fence Me In" was written by American composer and songwriter, Cole Porter.
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Initial WritingPorter originally penned the song in 1934 for an unproduced movie titled "Adios, Argentina."
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Lyrics CreditWhile Porter received credit for the song, he had, in fact, bought the poem that forms the song’s lyrics from Montana engineer, poet, and lyricist Robert Fletcher for $250.
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Inclusion in Hollywood MusicalThe song gained prominence when it was included in the 1944 Hollywood musical "Hollywood Canteen."
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PerformersIn "Hollywood Canteen," the song was sung by Roy Rogers while riding a horse and was later recorded by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters.
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Chart PerformanceBing Crosby's version of the song was so popular that it topped the Billboard charts for 8 weeks in 1944 and 1945.
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Long-lasting ImpactAlthough written for a specific film, "Don't Fence Me In" has been covered by a wide array of artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, David Byrne, and The Killers.
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Delays in Song's ReleaseDespite being written in 1934, it wasn't until a decade later, in 1944, that this song was finally heard by the public.
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Genre"Don't Fence Me In" fits into the genre of popular song and traditional pop, emblematic of Cole Porter's overall style.
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Representation of FreedomThe song is often interpreted as a kind of cowboy freedom song, with lyrics expressing a longing for the open ranges and vast landscapes of the American West.
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Connection with The Second World WarReleased during WWII, "Don't Fence Me In" was considered a metaphorical war song, expressing people's sentiment towards freedom and the end of the war.
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Pop Culture Impact"Don't Fence Me In" was not just a popular song but a cultural phenomenon, contributing to the myth and romance of the American West, which was a popular theme in mid-20th century popular culture.
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Citation
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