When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings - Official Lyric Video - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Take a listen to "When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings" from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and sing along with the lyrics!

"When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings" was written by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. It was performed by Willie Watson and Tim Blake Nelson for the Coen Brother's film "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs".

Performed by Willie Watson & Time Blake Nelson
Written by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
From the soundtrack album to “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”

[AbleArcher]

According to gunslinger lore, kicking dust at the feet of a fallen opponent was the ultimate sign of respect, and a means of releasing their souls to eternity. It was a beautiful scene, very well written and portrayed.

[laser]

The kicking of dirt onto your fallen enemy is a sign of respect. It gives the fallen cowboys spirit to leave the body. It's like a funeral

[taylerisu]

For those wondering why Buster died so fast: *That’s the point of the story.* Cowboys run and gun till it catches up with them, and someone always has a faster hand. Buster had cleverness, skill, and plenty of moxie, but there’d always be someone who’s just better. Even if the man in black won the duel, he sings this song to show that he understands that he too “can’t be top dog forever”.

[tethryss]

"Unsaddle my pony, she'll be itching to roam; I'll be halfway to heaven, under horsepower of my own!" Is such an amazing line.

[bonidle]

Buster is a character that deserves his own movie. Tim Blake Nelson is a very under rated and under used actor.

[gavinardo]

“We can shake our heads at all the meanness, in the used-to-be.”

I love that line.

[MrHalohunter]

It's ironic that kicking dust on someone seems incredibly disrespectful but is actually one of the most respectful things a gunslinger can do for someone he just bested.

[koshka]

2 years ago my dad asked me to make sure they played this song at his funeral I never would have thought the time would come so soon

[Broncoboy-tiqk]

1:12 I love how "The Kid" looks up slightly and hears Buster singing and smiles knowingly.

[katmaw]

The Kid knew he sealed his fate. Not only did he sing to his predecessor of the "faster gun" but to himself - this is the rest of his legendary, brief life. Until the next "faster gun" makes their entrance. He knows that.

[RhenishHelm]

I love what's written in the book about Buster's death: "We give him to you as he gave you so many. We give him to you, Lord, and humbly ask that you never give him back."

[Lpreilly]

My favorite line from the book at the end, “We give him to you, as he gave you so many. We give him to you, Lord, and humbly ask that you never give him back.”

[PULVERIZER]

It's funny how we got attached to this character in under 30 min, and were all equally sad when he died.... That's an example of good writing right there. Create a character, get him killed, and get everyone to feel sad, all in under what like 40 min? Maybe less

[GoldenGyroBalls]

I honestly found this bit at the end tremendously uplifting.

[mazzith]

I would pay $100 to see a full length movie of his life. One of my favorite characters lately. Was so frustrated when he died off that quickly.

[Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

The beauty of this scene is that Buster holds no ill will towards his killer. He even sings a duet with him as he ascends into the heavens as if to say 'You're the man now, dawg!'. He got beat fair & square and the great opera continues.

Such a f'n great movie.

[alixander]

The one person who was able to kill Buster Scruggs, was the only man who respected and admired him.

[henriducard]

"There's just gotta' be a place a'head where men aren't low-down and pokers played fair. If there weren't what're all the songs about? I'll see ya'll there! And we can sang together...And shake our heads over all the meanness in the used to be. " I love how positive and polite he is yet so badass and deadly at the same time.

[Elthenar]

I wanted more of Buster, but man did they tell a create a great character and give him an even better send off in like 15 minutes. This scene is magic.

[nightangelx]

I love how there’s no hard feelings, only admiration and respect for one another.