Few songs encapsulate the wild, untamed spirit of rodeo life quite like “Bareback Jack” by Chris LeDoux. Released in 1983, this iconic track not only launched LeDoux’s independent music career into wider public consciousness but also cemented his reputation as a true cowboy troubadour—someone who didn’t just sing about the rodeo life but lived it. Before he was a recording artist, Chris LeDoux was a world champion bareback rider, and nowhere is that more evident than in this high-octane, adrenaline-soaked anthem.
“Bareback Jack” tells the story of a fearless young cowboy who’s addicted to the thrill of bareback bronc riding—a notoriously dangerous event in rodeo that tests a rider’s grit, balance, and nerve. With a galloping tempo and twangy, driving guitar lines, the song plunges listeners into the dusty, chaotic world of chutes, spurs, and short rides that feel like a lifetime. It isn’t polished Nashville pop—this is raw, authentic country, forged in the arenas of Cheyenne, Cody, and Calgary.
What makes the track so compelling isn’t just the subject matter, but LeDoux’s delivery. He sings with a rugged honesty and lived-in charm that only someone who’s actually been “hung up to dry” on a bronc could deliver. His voice cracks with excitement and danger; his phrasing is tight, urgent, and brimming with respect for the sport and its participants. There’s no bravado—only reverence.
Interestingly, “Bareback Jack” also marked one of the first times country music audiences outside the rodeo world began to pay serious attention to LeDoux. Though he was already a legend among cowboys—selling tapes out of his truck at rodeos across the West—it wasn’t until songs like this reached wider ears that he began to gain the recognition he deserved. The song later became a staple of his live shows and a fan favorite, especially among those who knew the smell of rodeo dust and the feel of worn leather gloves.
More than just a song, “Bareback Jack” is a cultural artifact—an entry point into the life of a man who straddled the line between cowboy and country star. In an era when country music often polished its rough edges for commercial appeal, Chris LeDoux stayed true to his roots. And “Bareback Jack” is proof of that unshakable authenticity.