"Space Cowboy" finds Kacey Musgraves singing of a lover who tells her he needs some space and is looking to leave. She acknowledges that there is no point in chasing after him and the only thing to do is say goodbye. Sunsets fade and love does too Yeah, we had our day in the sun When a horse wants to run ain't no sense in closing the gate So you can have your space, cowboy Musgraves uses the Wild West cowboy as a metaphor for a relationship that has come to an end.
Musgraves explained the story behind the heartbreak ballad on an Instagram post: "One day I was out at the barn watching this stallion charging powerfully from one end of the arena to the other, bucking and galloping at full speed all alone. Though I was 'safe' on the other side of the arena wall, it kinda scared me when he came flying toward me... barely stopping in time. My riding teacher saw him coming at me and yelled at me to move away. I said 'I'm fine! The gate is closed!' to which she said, 'Girl - when they wanna go they will go… there ain't no point in even shuttin' the gate.' It really made a mark on me when she said that and I wrote it down. Space Cowboy came a couple days after with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird. Make peace with what doesn't belong. You'll find something better."
Shot on location in Mexico City and directed by Courtney Phillips (Marshmello, Khalid, Anne-Marie), the video reflects Musgraves lingering pain as she tries to come to terms with a broken relationship.
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