Continuing my countdown of the songs on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter…
#10. ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’
Cowboy Carter‘s lead single is its most overtly country song, and one that set listeners up to have their expectations upended by an album that travels well outside those genre boundaries. It was a clever marketing strategy, but this is also a great song — proof that if Beyoncé had just stuck to the country basics, she still would have delivered a memorable record.
#9. ‘Ameriican Requiem’
When I first heard Cowboy Carter‘s opening track, I thought it was a wonderful way to start an album but maybe not a song that would hold up out of context. I was dead wrong. This is a track I’ve returned to again and again for its soulful vocal performance and anthemic power.
#8. ‘Alliigator Tears’
Beyoncé made a point of using only physical instruments on this album, a stark contrast to the dizzying array of samples and electronic sounds on Renaissance. On songs like this, that decision pays huge dividends, giving a rich acoustic backdrop to some of her most provocative lyrics and vocals.
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Return to my track-by-track ranking of Cowboy Carter
Nothin’ really ends
For things to stay the same, they have to change again
Hello, my old friend
You change your name, but not the ways you play pretend
American Requiem
Them big ideas (Yeah), are buried here (Yeah)
Amen
[Chorus]
It’s a lot of talkin’ goin’ on
While I sing my song
Can you hear me?
I said, “Do you hear me?”
[Pre-Chorus]
Looka there, looka there now
Looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (Oh)
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (Yeah)
[Chorus]
It’s a lotta chatter in here
But let me make myself clear (Oh)
Can you hear me? (Huh)
Or do you fear me? (Ow)
[Verse 1]
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (Ow)
Coming in peace and love, y’all
Oh, a lot of takin’ up space
Salty tears beyond my gaze
Can you stand me?
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
Ooh, ah
Can we stand?
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?
Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
Can you stand with me?
[Chorus]
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind
Now ain’t the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in
[Bridge]
Thinkin’ to myself (Thinkin’ to myself)
Oh, it’s a lot of talkin’ goin’ on (Oh)
While I sing my song (Yeah)
Do you hear me when I say?
Do you hear me when I say? Ah
[Pre-Chorus]
Looka there, looka there
Looka, look
Looka-looka-looka-looka-looka
Looka-looka there, looka there
L-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-looka there
Oh, looka there, looka there
Looka there, looka there
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
[Chorus]
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (Now is the time to face the wind)
Now ain’t the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in (To let love in)
Together, can we stand?
[Verse 2]
Looka there, looka in my hand
The grandbaby of a moonshine man
Gadsden, Alabama
Got folk down in Galveston, rooted in Louisiana
Used to say I spoke too country
And the rejection came, said I wasn’t country ‘nough
Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but
If that ain’t country, tell me what is?
Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years
They don’t, don’t know how hard I had to fight for this
When I sang my song
[Outro]
(When I sang the song of Abraham)
(When the angels guide and take my hand)
(Oh, no)
Goodbye to what has been
A pretty house that we never settled in
A funeral for fair-weather friends
I am the one to cleanse me of my Father’s sins
American Requiem
Them big ideas (Yeah) are buried here (Yeah)
Amen
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’ve only heard the opening track once, but was immediately impressed. The lead single and today’s SOTD are also great.
love Alligator Tears, I think it’s my sleeper fave of the album in many ways.
Happy to see the top half of these rankings parallel my own.
Also very glad Texas Hold Em exists – and happy Beyoncé didn’t feel the need to make multiple songs in that similar vein. When you nail the formula – walk away and play with other country based instrumentation. That’s what I always say!
Agree with all these takes. Love that all the instrumentation on the album is old school. I’d likely have Requiem a bit higher just because I’m awed by it on every listen.