“The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy” from the “Toy Story 4” Soundtrack Gets a Fun Lyric Video

Disney and Pixar’s animated films are known not just for the memorable stories and beloved characters but also their fun, emotional and heartwarming music. Toy Story 4 will feature more of the same, including “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy,” which just received a fun lyric video.

  • The video features the end credit version of “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy,” which is performed by multi-Platinum, Grammy-winning musician Chris Stapleton.
  • In addition to the video, the song is available today as a single.
  • “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" was written from Woody’s perspective.
  • The soundtrack, which also features the new song “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” in addition to “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy,” will be available from Walt Disney Records on June 21 as the film opens in U.S. theaters nationwide.

  • The Toy Story 4 soundtrack reunites the Toy Story franchise with the Academy Award-winning composer and songwriter Randy Newman.
  • Newman is behind signature songs like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Strange Things,” “When She Loved Me” and “We Belong Together,” the last of which earned him an Academy Award for best original song in 2010.
  • The accomplished composer and songwriter penned both of the new songs for the film.
  • “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” is about Bonnie’s craft-project-turned-toy, Forky. “He gets it in his head that he’s disposable, so he keeps trying to throw himself in the trash can. And Woody has put himself in charge of keeping him from doing so,” Newman said about the song.
  • The Toy Story 4 original motion picture soundtrack is now available for physical pre-order. “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy” performed by Chris Stapleton is available at streaming and download services
  • You can hear the new music and rejoin your favorite gang of toys when Toy Story 4 hits theaters on June 21.

What they’re saying:

  • Director Josh Cooley on Randy Newman: “His music defines these movies. I can’t imagine making a fourth one without Randy Newman.”
  • Newman: “I have great affection for the films, and it was good to be back in that world again. Important things are happening to people we love. There’s plenty of action, but there’s a lot of deeper stuff. This picture had a lot of opportunity to do things of some depth emotionally – but not overdo it.”
  • Newman on Chris Stapleton’s performance of the new song: “Woody feels like he was a lonesome cowboy until someone comes along and changes his world. Chris Stapleton did a great job on this song.”
  • Stapleton: “To me what has made the Toy Story films hold up over time has been the strength of the stories and the songs and the writing and the characters. There’s something for people of all ages to enjoy in the world that is Toy Story. It’s a tremendous honor to get to sing a Randy Newman song in what is without question one of the most iconic animated franchises in history.”