‘Cowboy Hat’ by Courtney Amelia review
Courtney is a singer-songwriter from Northampton, and also offers vocal lessons. ‘Cowboy Hat” is due to be released 19th September 2026
She tells me how she wrote the song earlier this year following a “no label” relationship came to an end due to trust issues. Naturally she turned all this emotion into a song. A few days prior to the breakup, they had both spoken about writing a song off the cuff. Following a recent purchase of a cowboy hat, this was the suggested theme.
“I went home very sad, and wrote the chorus! I then wrote the rest of the song around this. I even went and got it tattooed on my wrist - stupid move potentially, but this song means a lot to me, so I figured it was worth the risk!
“Started out with late nights in old pubs
You in your boots, acting tough as love
Zach Bryan playing through the speakers loud
Oh how I wish you were still around.”
The first verse sets the scene of love and romance by describing how the evening or date starts. The verse even name checks a fellow Country artist ‘Zach Bryan’, yet the tone quickly changes to realise that it’s a flashback as “oh how I wish you were still around” describes how two lovers have separated.
“I gave you pieces I don’t hand out easy
You let me think that maybe you’d keep me.”
The pre-chorus describes how vulnerable they felt, offering pieces of our heart we don’t offer freely unless we believe them to be ‘the one’.
“Now your cowboy hat’s not hanging by my door
And I don’t hear your truck here anymore
One week silent, then you changed your mind
Said you just couldn’t trust me this time
All of the whiskey, all of the wine
Country music and backroad drives
Thought maybe this time I got it right
‘Til you disappeared into the night.”
The chrorus references the infamous cowboy hat, and how it’s no longer hanging by her door, suggesting a pretty serious relationship to be living together and to have moved out. The lyrics speak of “trust” something that is imperative to any relationship.
The second part of the chorus picks up the date night vibes with reference to alcohol and “backroad drives” (hopefully being responsible driving). When a relationship breaks down like this it causes us to question ourselves and our judgement. It also eludes to communication being another key trait to have in a relationship.
“Sitting on your knee in crowded rooms
I was just happy being close to you
Making plans for trips we’ll never take
Now it all just feels like such a waste.”
The second verse further captures the depth of the romance by citing “sitting on your knee In crowded rooms, I was just happy being close to you.” Often when in love we just want to be close to our partner, perhaps get intimate with them and share life together. Whilst the “plans’ referenced suggest a couples getaway, these plans are never a “waste” as we can continue to enjoy ourselves on a solo venture, or keep the plans for when we find someone worthy of our love.
The song returns to the pre-chorus reminding us to be cautious with the pieces we hand out, and to know our own worth.
Following the prechorus the song further returns to the chorus, to remind us of trust and communication for a relationship to fully flourish. Sometimes when we begin to question ourselves we lose ourselves, other times it channels the mind, giving a new purpose and focus on matchmaking.
“You once said hope is the root of all despair. Guess I should’ve known there was truth in there
You said I should come with a warning label
And that we'd end in tears.
I said you’d be the death of me
Well, that was clear.”
The bridge speaks a harsh truth, “hope is the root of all despair.” This is because the longing, and the hope can cause us to go delusional, and sets us up for a bigger fall if and when it doesn’t materialise as we’ve envisioned. it’s somewhat poetic irony that they think “I should come with a warning label” and yet weren’t prepared to ‘label’ their relationship.
The song concludes by once again returning to the chorus.
‘Cowboy Hat’ is available to download and stream from your favourite music platform from 19th September 2026. Make sure to follow her social media @courtney_amelia_ for more updates on future releases, performances and any upcoming tours.
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