I’ve been lurking peakytwt and the tommygrace x taylor swift folkmore pipeline is real but why haven’t I seen anything about how cowboy like me is THE s1 tommygrace song?? They’re all I think about when I listen to the lyrics. Yes, the song is about two literal con-artists falling in love. But are s1 tommygrace not con-people by definition? You can interpret con-artists as people who deceive others for their own gain. Tommy deceives people by rigging races and making shady deals and Grace deceives Tommy and the Peaky Blinders by working undercover. 

Most of the lines suit them so well. Let me take you almost line by line of what and how cowboy like me reminds me of tommygrace. 

“And you asked me to dance but I said, "Dancing is a dangerous game"

This is an obvious one. When Tommy asks Grace to dance for the first time. A pivotal scene that highlights their growing attraction for one another. Dangerous: for him for falling for someone in spite of himself and her, for falling for the enemy. 

“I've got some tricks up my sleeve/Takes one to know one/You're a cowboy like me/ You’re a bandit like me”

One of the main themes of the song I interpreted was the narrator recognizing trickery and deceit (negative characteristics) in another person but in a warm and comforting way (positive). Kind of like she’s met her match but in a way where she doesn’t feel alienated from the high society around them and doesn’t need to pretend anymore. Similarly, reciprocity and feeling seen are the main tommygrace motifs: “Now you’ve seen me.” “And, you’ve seen me.”/ “I found you and you found me.”/ “We know each other. We’re the same.”

“Never wanted love just a fancy car/ Now I'm waiting by the phone”

Tommy never wanted to fall in love since the war, he just wanted to make a lot of money! Cut to: Tommy in S2 pondering over Grace’s letter, wondering if he should call her. 

“Eyes full of stars, hustling for the good life/Never thought I'd meet you here, it could be love”

S1 Tommy was so hopeful (eyes full of stars), working his ass off to go legitimate and unexpectedly meeting barmaid Grace!

“And the skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up//We could be the way forward and I know I'll pay for it”

Their skeletons (or baggage) were initially in the way of acknowledging their feelings. Her vengeful mission and his wartime PTSD. Despite this, Tommy and Grace accept the love they have but like the narrator, they figuratively pay for it. Grace by having to betray the man she loves and Tommy, by being betrayed by the woman he loves. 

“And the old men that I've swindled really did believe I was the one/ And the ladies lunching have their stories about when you passed through town”

A nice parallel of Inspector Campbell loving Grace and the high-status women who fawn over and fetishize Tommy. 

“Now you hang from my lips like the Gardens of Babylon/With your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con”

My favourite lines. It reminds me of tommygrace’s first night together and with Grace dying so soon after their wedding, forever really was their sweetest con. (To me, this line meant that forever can’t be promised, even in a wedding vow, but it is a lie meant with the sweetest intentions.)

“You're a cowboy like me, and I'm never gonna love again”

Some people interpret this line to mean that the two con-artists have stopped conning and will never love another because they are together now. However, I took it to mean that the man left such a significant mark that the narrator will never love again even if he leaves (or cons) her. Tommy never falls in love again after Grace first betrays him and after her death.

All in all, cowboy like me is my favourite song from Folklore+Evermore and the love story about two con-artists unexpectedly falling in love reminded me of Season 1 tommygrace, my favourite season. Sonically, the song even sounds like a tune that could play in a 1920s British gangster drama and both depict social class themes! Also you can’t convince me Tommy Shelby can’t be considered a cowboy every time he pulls up on his horse!!!

Thanks for reading up until now! I’ve always wanted to do an analysis of my two favourite things and with this season being the last, this is also my little love letter to tommygrace and Peaky Blinders <3