"I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)" is a comic pop song written by Johnny Mercer for the 1936 Paramount film Rhythm on the Range and sung by Bing Crosby. Crosby's Decca single was recorded on July 17, 1936 with Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra and released as the A-side to I Can't Escape from You. The tune, about 2 minutes and 40 seconds long, satirizes a 20th century cowboy who prefers cars and Hollywood glamour to old time ranching. It became a major hit in 1936, reaching No. 2 on the charts and helping Mercer and Crosby rise in fame. The song is regarded as a Western standard and was named one of the Top 100 Western songs by the Western Writers of America; it has been covered by many artists including Sonny Rollins, Monty Alexander, Joshua Redman and John Scofield. Crosby re recorded it in 1954 for the album Bing: A Musical Autobiography, and the tune has appeared in films and later media such as the 2012 film Men in Black 3 where the Sons of the Pioneers version is heard.
