Cowboy by Shane O'Neill

Let's sidle on out west, y'all, and take a gander at what the folks of the cattle rustlin' persuasion are gettin' inked on their hides! Cowboy culture has a deep love affair with its ink, though people in general are much more likely to think of bikers, metalheads and numerous other groups first when considering who is most likely to get tattooed.

Interestingly, the American cowboy is a world-wide legend, capturing the imaginations of people everywhere. American country music is wildly popular outside of the US, and experts believe that it is because of the universal themes it expresses. Much of country music is about a longing for a simple, free life that is disappearing with the advance of modern technology and urban expansion. People in all countries have felt this same shift in their own cultures at some time, and country music captures their sentiments perfectly.

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my own 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

Gaze at the moon till I lose my senses

I can't look at hovels and I can't stand fences

Don't fence me in

It's a simple song, one that people might consider cliché, but if you really take in the words, you can feel that heartfelt longing for freedom, for a connection with nature, for a world that is slipping away. It's no wonder that people ink themselves in the cowboy motif. It's not just about horses and 10 gallon hats; It's about a way of life that hits us at the core of our souls, no matter where we're from.