Expert: Bong Santos - 10/29/2006

Question
I remember a song in the 80's that was a cowboy themed tune. It had a bit of a punk rock flair. I know it's not 'I wanna be a cowboy' by Boys Don't Cry or 'Cowpunk' by Scott Goddard. I am hoping to track this particular song down.  

Answer
Dear Burke,

There are a number of songs with "cowboy" melodies or arrangements in the 80's but I strongly believe the one you are looking for is a song called THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT, I GOTTA WEAR SHADES by TIMBUK 3.

TIMBUK 3 is the husband and wife duo of PAT & BARBARA McDONALD. They recorded their debut album GREETINGS FROM TIMBUK 3 in 1986 under MCA Records from which their only hit single came from. THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT...reached #19 on the Hot 100 Charts on January 10, 1987.

Here's how it goes:

THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT, I GOTTA WEAR SHADES / TIMBUK 3

I study nuclear science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

I've got a job waiting for my graduation
Fifty thou a year -- buys a lot of beer
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

Well I'm heavenly blessed and worldly wise
I'm a peeping-tom techie with x-ray eyes
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

I study nuclear science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades, I gotta wear shades

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines


Man, how thoughtful of you to rate my knowledgeability as 1 for this particular question. I told you there's lots of cowboy-themed songs. You gave a very vague clue, not even some lyrics you remember, what part of the 80's, something like that. There's WILD WILD WEST by THE ESCAPE CLUB or THE OLD MAN DOWN THE ROAD by JOHN FOGERTY or KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF by THE GEORGIA SATTELITES, lots of them....