Song written by Steve Dorff, Sandy Pinkard, Sam Atchley and Bud Dain, was recorded by Mel Tillis, for the MCA label, was recorded in April 1979, at Glaser Sound Studio, 916 9th Ave. South, Nashville, TN. With the production of Jimmy Bowen, was released in June 1979, on August 18, 1979, the song reached # 1 on the lists of US Hot Country Songs, for a week, and remained in the charts for 15 weeks, in the Canadian RPM Country Tracks lists, it reached # 3. It was the fifth number one in Mel’s career.

The song was included in Mel’s twenty-third studio album, Mr. Entertainer (MCA 1979), on the US Top Country Albums charts, he reached number # 21 and the Canadian country albums, he reached # 11.

The song was featured in the film, Every Which Way but Loose, starring Clint Eastwood and the film Bandit Goes Country (which also had Tillis in the film) starring Brian Bloom. He was included in the soundtrack, Every Which Way But Loose (Elektra 1979).

Story behind the song:

When Mel agreed to participate in the film, Every Which Way But Loose, he met with the producer of the soundtrack, Snuff Garrett, who proposed two songs to Mel for the soundtrack, Mel did not like the proposed songs, and He proposed to Snuff to write two songs for the soundtrack, but Snuff told him that he had to sing those two songs, or he would not appear in the film. Tillis agreed and sang the two songs, Send Me Down To Tucson and Coca Cola Cowboy. The Coca Cola Cowboy song was recorded first for the movie, then recorded for the album Mr. Entertainer.

Jim Bowen (Mel’s producer) and Mel Tillis did not like the Coca Cola Cowboy song and did not want to record the song for a record again, but he had to do it because before he left California he promised Snuff Garrett that he would. Not only did Tillis not like “Coca Cola Cowboy,” Bowen thought it was the “dumbest song I had ever heard.” I could not stand it. Of course, when he went to # 1 on August 18, 1979, the producer changed his mind.

Mel Tillis – Coca Cola Cowboy Lyrics

I called collect on the phone
You say you’re tired and alone
But it sounds like someone else is lying there
She said don’t call me no more
Don’t you knock on my door
It’s too late now, and I know you’ll never change

She said…
You’re just a Coca-Cola cowboy
You got an Eastwood smile, and Robert Redford hair
But you walked across my heart like it was Texas
And you taught me how to say I just don’t care

She said just leave me alone
And let me hang up this phone
‘Cause he’ll see me cry, and think I still love you
Please don’t call me no more
I changed the locks on my door
Its time you understood that we are through

She said…
You’re just a Coca-Cola cowboy
You got an Eastwood smile, and Robert Redford hair
But you walked across my heart like it was Texas
And you taught me how to say I just don’t care

She said…
You’re just a Coca-Cola cowboy
You got an Eastwood smile, and Robert Redford hair
But you walked across my heart like it was Texas
And you taught me how to say I just don’t care

Yes, she taught me how to say I just don’t care