Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Willie Nelson’s Tribute to Horses in “Ride Me Back Home” Will Leave you Weeping

Willie Nelson’s Tribute to Horses in “Ride Me Back Home” Will Leave you Weeping
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

There is no better feeling than finding a home that respects you. Willie Nelson’s mellow singing in “Ride Me Back Home” will bring you to tears as he points out the significance of horses’ freedom. The animal seems fitting for a country song, but the lyrics have a deeper meaning than that. 

On June 21, 2019, Nelson released “Ride Me Back Home” as the title track to his 69th solo studio album with the same name. It was inspired by his 70-owned horses on his ranch in Austin, Texas. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer, Sonny Throckmorton, wrote the song with Lucinda Hinton, Joe Manual, and Debby Throckmorton. Such collaborative effort further solidified Nelson’s career. 

RELATED: 10 Willie Nelson Facts You Should Probably Know

One critic from Metacritic said, “Indeed, Nelson performs so deftly on Ride Me Back Home that you’ll feel the urge to ask this aged outlaw to hop back in the saddle for yet another spryly exciting ride.” Another user said, “The voice has weathered like timber, but his timing is impeccable, his Tex-Mex guitar flurries thrilling. The cowboy sage (and Beto Democrat) remains unique.”

NPR writer Ken Tucker reviewed the song as “another metaphor for a more permanent kind of resting place.”

The song earned Nelson the Best Country Solo Performance at the 2020 Grammy Awards. These recognitions attest to the fact that this is one of Nelson’s critically acclaimed songs.

Meaning Behind the Song

Aside from his musical talents, who wouldn’t admire Willie Nelson’s big heart? The 70 rescued horses that inspired “Ride Me Back Home” must have finally found their freedom when Nelson saved them. “I’ve bought a lot of horses that were gonna be slaughtered,” Nelson told Rolling Stone. “It’s a good story.” 

His producer Buddy Canon explained to the magazine that songwriter Sonny Throckmorton lives right by Nelson’s Luck studio and saw his horses. This is where the idea bore fruit. 

The touching tribute preserves horses’ contribution to the world—from reliable companies on the battlefield, hunting, pulling wagons, and traveling, they have served mαnkind throughout history. But they became more disposable as technology advanced, left to fend for themselves. Relative to his experience, Nelson wanted to gather all these horses into one place they could call home. 

Nelson’s compassion came out naturally in singing the song while vividly describing the freedom of not only the horses but also other earthly beings that society has cast aside. Fences have kept them out only because they are no longer necessary. The singer’s message is to care for and protect all living creatures the same way we would value ourselves. 

Spark your empathy while watching Willie Nelson’s performance of “Ride Me Back Home.”

Trending

Latest Stories

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

After viral sensation Oliver Anthony shared some candid—and controversial—thoughts about the music industry, country music fans were abuzz recently. The conversation escalated when Anthony hinted that a mainstream country artist ...

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis' Grammy-Winning "Forever and Ever, Amen"

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis’ Grammy-Winning “Forever and Ever, Amen”

When it comes to country music that stands the test of time, Randy Travis is the name that echoes through the halls of history. His deep, resonant voice and unparalleled ...

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Amid Blood Disease Complications

The Robertson family, known for their Duck Dynasty fame, has revealed concerning news about their beloved patriarch, Phil Robertson. On a recent episode of their podcast, Unashamed with the Robertson ...

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Country music has always been a storytelling tradition, weaving the trials and triumphs of everyday life into melodies that stand the test of time. While most fans trace the roots ...

The All-American Rejects Reveal "Dirty Little Secret" Started as a Country Song

The All-American Rejects Reveal “Dirty Little Secret” Started as a Country Song

Who would’ve thought? The All-American Rejects, those emo-rock icons of the 2000s, recently revealed a surprising twist about one of their biggest hits. During an interview on the Zach Sang ...

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery's "Sold" With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold” With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top is quickly solidifying his place as one of country music’s most exciting rising stars. Hailing from Sunnyside, Washington, Zach brings a neotraditional flair to his music that feels ...

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds' Show

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds’ Show

Burt Reynolds may be best remembered as a Hollywood icon. Still, in the early ’90s, he brought country music royalty together for an unforgettable moment in television history. On his ...

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Chris Stapleton’s dominance at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards was not without controversy. As he walked away with Single of the Year and Song of the Year for ...

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" Album as "Complete Trash"

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” Album as “Complete Trash”

Oliver Anthony is no stranger to controversy. Known for his unapologetic stance against the mainstream music industry, the artist behind “Rich Men North of Richmond” recently turned his attention to ...

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville's Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville’s Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony, the breakout star whose hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” skyrocketed him to fame, has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the music business’s ...