CMT News

After contributing a version of Bob Dylan's "He Was a Friend of Mine" for the Brokeback Mountain film soundtrack, Willie Nelson has recorded a new song, "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)." The plot of Brokeback Mountain centers around the romantic relationship between two cowboys. "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" was written in 1981 by Ned Sublette, a New York-based songwriter who was born in Texas. Nelson recorded the song exclusively for iTunes, although plans are underway to include it on a future album and to produce a music video. The song begins with the lyrics, "There's many a strange impulse out on the plains of West Texas/There's many a young boy who feels things he can't comprehend." In a written statement, Nelson noted, "The song's been in the closet for 20 years. The timing's right for it to come out. I'm just opening the door."