Pumpkin Cowboy

He's a cowboy and a pumpkin!
music by the incredible Jonah Scott: / altogetherband & thealtogether.bandcamp.com/
camera/puppeting help from Karen Han: / karenyhan
join my patreon: / briandavidgilbert
this is where brian david gilbert is:
/ briandavidgilbert
/ briamgilbert
/ briamgilbert

[@Ani]

"all he wanted was to cause pain" getting real kevin punt vibes from this cowboy cat character

[@greason]

Agreed

[@smallbar2012]

Came here to comment this and couldn't agree more. Clearly the cow-with-child is a metaphor for Terry, who in a way was pregnant with battle possibility that was never able to spring forth.

[@admicos]

in this video, brian is pulling a "Bookman's Bluff", where cowboy cat is a metaphor for kevin punt

[@26mic]

I make entertaining vids as wel dawg

[@axelamazzal3497]

@@smallbar2012 'pregnant with battle possibility' is how I'm gonna announce my future wife once we get a baby, thank you for this

[@jackfogmog]

"His smile wide with a kerchief tied around his neck/waist" is my favorite line

[@Meromorphic]

Went looking for this. Lmao

[@kevinroyaljohnson4967]

Also that it is rhymed with "post-haste"

[@jospinner1183]

@@kevinroyaljohnson4967 An all-around triumph of lyricism.

[@kitkatgal37]

I showed this video to my parents (because my dad loves westerns and once told me he thought it was a shame that TV shows don't have theme songs anymore, so I thought he might like this at least a little), and this was also my mom's favorite line.

[@diddykongdontyoumeandonkeykong]

0:42...0

[@rangordall8771]

one of the saddest parts of this is that Pumpkin Cowboy never got to meet the calf he sacrificed so much for

[@azizabrown]

Shut up I didn’t realise that 😭😭

[@dreadpersephone]

legacy is planting a garden you never get to see

[@rangordall8771]

amogus pfp

[@rylandtaylor2856]

@@dreadpersephone he wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for him. America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for him.

[@tristangraham706]

A true hero needs no recognition 😢

[@alanbecker]

this is so freaking catchy... how does everything rhyme with everything

[@missseaweed2462]

The fandoms have collided.

[@Meromorphic]

Because they are the same word

[@mythicalexplorer7846]

Holy shit hi alan becker, love your stuff.

[@Megakell0]

Next Alan Becker video is Animation and pumpkin cowboy confirmed

[@idontneedaname318]

Just really good lyric writing. Honestly it's not too hard to write rhyming verse but maintaining a good rhythm is HARD

[@Beastw1ck]

Rhyming "grouchy" with "ouchie". BDG is at the top of his game.

[@Fudcrup]

I think he didn't write this

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes fax...

[@AerialFrameworks]

Meouchie

[@smost15]

I think @@AerialFrameworks is right, it's MEOWCHIE

[@mirmalchik]

so freakin cute

[@-ZH]

Let’s see if this descends into horror. Edit: Ah, a tragedy.

[@naughtymelon6712]

I’m just waiting for it...

[@peeearl]

It did not! What a wonder

[@goofiestgal]

such a bittersweet ending, what a tearjerker

[@dynawesome]

I was thinking the same thing, what a shock

[@Ryan50Ryan]

I love the patron's names. "An Overwhelming Surplus of Diggity" "The Bonetrousler" "Bees"

[@helloiamenergyman]

DarthJarJarTheWise

[@viviaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan]

slime man

[@iker2333]

Bdg finally got bees from the "this is not a metaphor" video

[@Bobberation]

I'm a fan of "Phlemily has BDE (Big Dwarf Energy)" and the fact that father of genetics Gregor Mendel is a patron.

[@benjaminepstein5856]

I am currently eating spaghetti

[@StonetheDestroyer42]

We were telling our 4-year-old it was dangerous to play with knives because she tried to cut her own apple. She asked, "Like the cat?" And after some discussion of what happened to the Cat Cowboy, she demanded to see "the movie." So you're going to have to produce a much longer production, I think.

[@maxberry7908]

The brand he's developed is so incomprehensible yet singularly his. An icon

[@t.s9021]

Clearly, it's because he used a Brandity brand cocoon

[@screamsformemes]

@@t.s9021 ADSJKFH SCREAMIN

[@screamsformemes]

Yeah he inspires me a lot in this way

[@grubgobbler3917]

"HI, I'm Hugh Brandity."

[@donatj]

I heard he prefers ice cream sandy’s on a hot cruise

[@TundraWolfe]

This has massive "Hey, look at this weird thing I found at a flea market" energy. I am here for it.

[@custodeon]

Matt Rose "LOOK WHAT I BOUGHT" energy

[@EGRJ]

And it's technically tax deductible!

[@gochadc]

just thought of the same and posted a comment about it, then I scrolled down and saw that I was no the first one to had that same feeling.

[@gitsurfer27]

He saw the pumpkin, and then the cat and thought "ow they ain't ready for this one" XD

[@brodyfrable4250]

@@gitsurfer27 one big cry into a pillow later, i still aint

[@JustAnotherDingus]

Half of me wants to believe that Brian and Karen found this guy in a thrift store and knew this was his destiny. The other half knows he made it purely for the “gourd-geous” pun.

[@Shonen_Hero]

Apparently Karen found him at a flea market, so you actually aren't far off

[@JustAnotherDingus]

@@Shonen_Hero Really? Wow, I feel slightly smart.

[@matah4295]

I didn't click on this for several days because it looked so silly I regret having lived without this tale for so long. Pumpkin Cowboy's legend shall live on in my weeping heart. *tips hat*

[@heck3933]

i can affirm this sentiment

[@carljones4179]

Very mature of you to acknowledge your mistake, we forgive you

[@azizabrown]

Me too, I’ve now listened to itinerary repeat nightly for the last 10 or so days

[@idontneedaname318]

Same

[@jellyjamjello]

im not ready for what i just experienced

[@StoutCorvus]

A song about a true hero. A pacifist, a lover of life and earth, who in his shame exiled himself. For he did not want to hear the cheers from the townsfolk over a senseless death, even for one as malicious as Cowboy Cat. Cowboy Pumpkin may never know true peace again, and although he lives, he sacrificed everything.

[@screamsformemes]

*sniffles* that was beautiful

[@afeatherinthewind]

Pumkin Cowboy lore is my favorite

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

But the townsfolk guaranteed a better life for Cowboy Pumpkin's cows. It's the least they could do for the memory of their savior.

[@acorn4084]

single-handedly carrying the music industry of this day and age

[@goofiestgal]

of course. this is brain david gilbert we are speaking about

[@foudroyantly]

just came back to let you know my older sister showed this to her 4th/5th grade students and now “pumpkin cowboy!!!” is a call and response she uses with her students

[@sweetmachaq1602]

That is so cute!!!!!

[@bigbird4481]

@@electricboy2144 how is this a yes queen moment?

[@zombrine34]

@@bigbird4481 yos queen

[@Knightgob]

@@zombrine34yush quan

[@idontneedaname318]

that's adorable and hilarious

[@FleurMarigold]

this has deeply affected me. something inside of me has changed. pumpkin cowboy was so committed to nonviolence, but he was put in a situation where he had no choice but to employ it to protect the ones he loved. what must that do to a poor pumpkin's heart? and even then, he couldn't stay with those he wanted to protect - he couldn't stand to remain on such sullied ground where this tragedy occured. the isolation, the loss of self, the uprooting of his peaceful, contented lifestyle... sure, you can be a hero in the eyes of the townsfolk. but how do you cope with being a monster in your own?

[@dylanbksp]

In the end, Cowboy Cat would have won if he died or not. If he didn't die, Cow would have died. If he did die, Pumpkin Cowboy would have to deal with the consequences of commiting murder. No matter the outcome, life or death, Cowboy Cat would have always achieved his goal. He inflicted pain, either on Cow or Pumpkin Cowboy, pain all the same.

[@auzieten]

The pumpkin had a hat on. Pumpkins don't wear hats.

[@noizepusher7594]

Also when he started wandering, he didn’t take his horse. Unlike many other coy boys PC treated his horse as not just as an object for transportation but as an equal. And he didn’t want to punish it by taking it away from home for his mistakes

[@sugarqbs]

therapy? i think the answer is therapy

[@seven471]

Exactly.

[@soulhelper7027]

BDG has freedom to do whatever he wants, and that's terrifying seeing what he did here

[@anilmehta4714]

I think you mean "Inspiring"

[@elibright1]

It's so cool you can just never know what he's gonna release next

[@sarahwatts7152]

@@elibright1 So true! Though I couldn't get through the horror genre one. Repetition like that was so creepy!

[@Ookami1123]

I'm just really shocked that cowboy cat was able to get the last laugh... doing that to pumpkin cowboy... the gourd who detested violence was forced to... I can't. I'm too emotional.

[@destroyingheal3968]

IT WASN'T HIS FAULT, STOP

[@snufkin8940]

Ouchy

[@AWildGrickit]

He got to inflict pain after all :(

[@dylansickinger545]

I really like the line “he’d let him take his hat.” Not just because it’s funny, but because that’s not a very significant thing to offer someone, so when he suggests that, along with the hand movements it shows that this is truly an act of panicked desperation.

[@StrykerMagnum]

You have a strong eye; small things like that, which might go completely unnoticed consciously, go a long way to expressing a complete and believable narrative or character. Even if that character is a weird thrift store decoration. Continue to train that discerning eye of yours- if you apply what you see to your own creative works, you'll have some very strong foundations to work with!

[@dylansickinger545]

@@StrykerMagnum Thank you, and also, this sounds like a character at the beginning of a video game, telling the player that they’ve got skill and might be able to be the best one day or something.

[@potato_the_pig5757]

Typically, the hat is a mark of pride and honor for a cowboy, if I recall correctly. So the fact that he was willing to give up something so significant showed how much he cared.

[@cursedGalataea]

@@potato_the_pig5757 yes, this

[@baxkill]

@@dylansickinger545 He just Megaman X Zeroed you

[@GbBusterBoom]

Why is no one talking about the “JUST TO INFLICT PAIN” line? Like wft! That cat was SERIOUS.

[@Gnomester2]

Truly a kevin punt moment

[@bennyboy3903]

@@Gnomester2 does that make BDG Pumpkin Cowboy and Terry represented by the cow?

[@tangsolaris9533]

Kevin Punt is actually a metaphor for Cowboy Cat

[@Drewgystew]

This is the respect and reverence that all thrift store door hangers deserve.

[@merlinmeurer5339]

The respect Pumpkin Cowboy deserves.

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes fax...

[@HipyoTech]

This is modern art

[@Josuh]

@mr nobody like joe mama 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@JustNeki]

I see you are a man of culture, my dear hipyo.

[@26mic]

I make entertaining vids as wel g

[@HypnoticHorizons]

Couldn’t agree more. Keep up your good cintent

[@_E1_]

Build BDG a keyboard?

[@sageeden7274]

The line "Cat and Pumpkin, Flesh and Blade" went so hard and BDG had no right to be this good at story-building, song-writing, singing, and comedy all at the same time.

[@cliponbowties4799]

I always heard it as "Cow met pumpkin flesh met blade!"

[@bijesus9604]

"And the knife fell to the arid ground. And the scoundrel stood. Then swayed" Why did a line from a video about a god damned pumpkin cowboy give me chills.

[@wahoo2]

:) same here,, I'm like 90% sure its a reference to the lord of lightning vs. balrog by kglw, where they adopt the same tone and mention much the same words after a great battle has happened

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

Pumpkin Cowboy is the positive male role model we all need.

[@woody2066]

My guess is Brian found these weird figurines somewhere and just HAD to so something with them. I love it.

[@isaacfreeman1803]

I think I remember seeing karen tweet about finding pumpkin cowboy a while ago?

[@austinmcmahon2532]

@peace eh it was a risky click, but you confused the hell out of me. I thought it would have anything to do with bdg

[@LuluGE]

The lil guys are called smiski and they're perfect lil men

[@jeremytewari3346]

A completely unironic and in-depth analysis of this tragedy: What makes this song so unbelievably sad is that Pumpkin Cowboy isn’t just sad he accidentally killed someone. We can tell Pumpkin Cowboy isn’t doing completely alright, he doesn’t live in town, he’s basically alone in the world besides his cattle. The WANTED poster isn’t just a cute gag, people genuinely want to be his friend but he avoids them, and he “much prefers the silence.” Furthermore, his hatred of violence indicates he’s had some sort of bad past with it. My theory is this: Pumpkin Cowboy was once upon a time an outlaw (this is implied by his lassoing and riding skills, the speed at which he can run, etc) but he managed to move on and improve through his discovered love of herding. He despises violence because he never wants to go back to how he was. And he sees his old self in Cowboy Cat. Now Cowboy Cat initially comes off as his polar opposite, however as we have covered, Pumpkin Cowboy was likely very similar to him once upon a time. Cat Cowboy is a psychologically damaged individual, considering that he refuses a massive stretch of land and a fancy hat just to cause pain indicates he cares not for material possessions (he probably steals purses for pure sadism). My guess is some sort of trauma, though I don’t have any evidence for this, this type of psychopathy generally is the result of abuse or PTSD. Though I think Pumpkin was an outlaw, I doubt he did it for such sadistic reasons as Cat, which is why Pumpkin has moved on with his life while Cat has not. It’s very likely he never would have. But Pumpkin probably didn’t believe that. And that’s why he’s so heartbroken that he killed Cat. Because Cat will never get the chance to redeem himself now, he has been robbed of any chance at abandoning his outlaw ways and doing any good for others. Pumpkin killed what he once was, and he thinks “What if that had been me?” And that’s why he leaves. People come to celebrate him, but to Pumpkin, what he did is nothing worth celebrating, even if it was an accident. Pumpkin’s fate is left ambiguous, but I don’t think he killed himself, as some have theorized. Life is precious to him, and he likely would attempt to atone for Cat’s death in some way. Beautifully told story, you can watch it as a very black-and-white good vs. evil, but I think it’s quite a bit more complex than that. I hope Brian does more stuff like this.

[@kaitlynphillips7283]

This is the greatest essay I have ever read

[@Knightgob]

I have found the best comment on this site

[@scrundle8489]

Maybe Pumpkin and Cat were compatriots at one point in time and had both experienced something genuinely terrifying? It would make sense why they would be so similar and why Cat would very specifically target Pumpkin in this situation. Don't exactly believe you're right on the purse stealing being out of pure sadism as Cat clearly relies on thievery in order to survive, but more likely the attempted murder of the cow was some form of revenge for something Pumpkin did.

[@walrusman151]

Thank you, this is just what I like to see on youtube

[@Yoarashi]

A completely unironic response: This is otherwise a very compelling and convincing analysis of Pumpkin and Cat's implied backstories, but falls apart entirely in the middle where you've failed to do your homework with regards to the psychological aspects of it. Psychopathy of any "kind" is "generally" a result of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, and not even remotely a "result" of PTSD. It's true that childhood neglect, e.g. a type of abuse, has been tied to psychopathy as one of many factors influencing the development of a person's empathy or lack thereof. However, saying that psychopathy, "generally" or otherwise, is the result of PTSD is like saying cake generally is the result of croissants; they often share key ingredients, but that's about it. Furthermore, you use several terms essentially interchangeably when they really are not. Being an abuse survivor (childhood or otherwise) and having PTSD are not the same thing; not every abuse survivor develops PTSD, and not everyone with PTSD has been abused. Similarly, psychopathy and sadism are not the same thing; one can have one without the other. Pumpkin would hang his head in despair at seeing his life's story used to back up unscientific claims like this; based on your analysis, he, of all people, would know well that people with mental illness and PTSD in particular face enough stigma as it is.

[@jessical4866]

This awakens a need for a BDG sea shanty that I didn’t know I had.

[@HighLordComedian]

SOS from AHHba

[@bugdracula1662]

He did a podcast called Let’s make a music and they made a song called shan’t he shanty

[@blueacolyte3353]

I thought at first that Pumpkin Cowboy was merely a joke, but I halted everything to finish his tale. Inspiring work.

[@26mic]

I make entertaining vids as wel homie

[@BlueAFrenchMuseum]

a fellow Destiny enjoyer, I see. sound comment too. may RNGesus and BDG grace you greatly!

[@rheolamorena6099]

@@lomaii2847 you ii

[@iridescent.fluorescence]

Same hahaha

[@rheolamorena6099]

Eiikiieio o i i i ioi2o

[@rebekahdykema9322]

Moral of the story, don't let Brian into antique stores... Or rather give him a gift card and see what happens

[@XhanAnimations]

Sponsor money - Thrift store Edition

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes fax...

[@verslang]

antique stores sell gift cards?

[@Mailodi47]

You spelled always wrong

[@VioletTheGeek]

The puppetry during the line "as he'll lasso them post-haste" is low-key brilliant.

[@fredrikhogbom1854]

I've got a 1,5yo daughter at home. I listened to this once or twice in her presence when it released. Now, about a week later. I've listened to it probably a thousand times and whenever my daughter makes a little dance and points angrily to my phone. I play it once more.

[@rarecromALT]

:D

[@idontneedaname318]

Oh OOF at the very least it's not a bad video for your 1 yr old daughter to get attached to

[@friday13thirteen]

the fact that almost every bdg music video has a similar top comment about somebody's baby being obsessed with it suggests he's some sort of modern day internet pied piper, a chilling conclusion frankly

[@skys0uls]

Considering how much this song initially reminded me of vhs' I would watch as a kid on repeat especially for One Song I'm glad to see the new generation has an equivalent.

[@alexalvarez8863]

I just love that this starts as a funny little pumpkin cowboy songs, and transforms into this tragedy about how the Pumpkin Cowboy, who hates violence and just wanted friends, ended up a murderer thus destroying his moral core. He didn’t want to celebrate or even see his cows or horse, he just needed to leave and clear his head and deal with his guilt over the death of Cowboy Cat. Funny and cute on the top but with a strangely emotional and tragic core; truly a masterpiece

[@afeatherinthewind]

For these reasons, I hope this is the only remaining piece of media that survives the apocalypse. Somebody record this thing on a VHS or something, it just feels right.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

It's amazing how such a brilliant tale could be made as just sort of a joke. Besides the absurdity of the anthropomorphized pumpkin, this could easily have been a classic campfire song that everyone reveres.

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes fax...

[@muchochucho9778]

Murderer feels a bit disingenuous in this case, I think if we really take the time to take a look at the guilt Pumpkin Cowboy feels despite most definitely being the defender in this situation it could be very eye opening. Every year pumpkins that are potential cowboys are slaughtered needlessly. This is an example of the harsh injustices those gourds endure to keep themselves and the name of their kind from being marred in bloodshed. I hope Pumpkin Cowboy can find peace.

[@haydenmasters8312]

how does this man have the power to tell such a compelling story about literally anything

[@AsdfAsdf-mi6ks]

It’s that creative writing degree at work!

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes fax...

[@0BucketMask0]

A good imagination and a way with words. That and a literal degree in creative writing. Can't forget that part.

[@Nannada1212]

A lot of people who saw this at a pawn shop would buy it, but BDG was already thinking about how he got there

[@Sompursone]

I misheard "was just to inflict pain" as "was just to end this pain" on my first couple listens of this song, and I'm really into this "Cowboy Cat has Depression and is just lashing out" headcanon.

[@lilr6199]

Cowboy Cat lost his way in life a long time ago. After so much isolation and bitter grief he turned to self destruction and the destruction of his community too. Even now that he’s dead, his painful legacy lives on. Cowboy Pumpkin is fated to walk the same path. Self imposed exile shall begin a new chapter in Cowboy Pumpkin’s life, and it won’t be a rootin tootin good time.

[@egon3705]

@@lilr6199 this will surely be *SOMETHING TERRIBLE*

[@jacklandismusic]

This is my favorite type of parody. It’s funny and off beat, but it’s still far more authentic to old time country western music than it needs to be. It’s a good joke, and a good song. Well done, Brian.

[@diamondpython8034]

Parodies are often best when they show a genuine love for the thing they’re parodying.

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

@@diamondpython8034 Weird Al’s style parodies like Dare to Be Stupid succeed at this so well

[@artistwithouttalent]

What I find wild about this is that it manages to feel more authentic than most modern country while also being about a cowboy that is also a pumpkin.

[@MysteryMedia2001]

See ya, pumpking cowboy. This is the most emotionally invested I have ever been in a story about a cowboy or a gourd

[@kartonrad]

See you Space Cowboy... da da dada da dada *japanese singing*

[@26mic]

I make entertaining vids as wel kuz

[@rivereee]

I'm going to need a sing-along version with a bouncing pumpkin immediately, Brian

[@ACDBunnie]

That is so on theme

[@trashbug4843]

yesssss!

[@Em_Cee669]

Oh my god yes

[@ethansmall581]

Pretty please

[@Dragosprite]

This cause is a righteous one

[@namemycactus]

The "the scoundrel stood, then swayed" line is so delivered so good it makes me cry

[@anastasiab1066]

IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT PUMPKIN COWBOY

[@davidgidla650]

There’s this anxiety when you’re watching a new BDG video for the first time. Where you don’t know if it’s Gna stay whimsical or devolve into cosmic horror. I type this while watching. So far so good

[@davidgidla650]

Phew. Okay it stayed charming. 😅

[@JonathanAskren]

I so feel this.

[@screamsformemes]

lmfao well said

[@lukebarrowes3567]

Haha def felt this on the first watch

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

You expect either goofy comedy or psychological horror. But this is a genre no one could expect. This was a riveting tale of heroism, loyalty, vengeance, suspense, and cows.

[@akex519]

it’s scary how well bdg fits into pretty much every musical genre he attempts

[@Josuh]

@mr nobody i missed joe mama in bed 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@saltyjade8580]

Brian is music himself

[@iMasterchris]

Check the description, he had a collaborator this time and the combination of the two of them is great

[@previllion5355]

@@iMasterchris BDG and Jonah Scott have a band, The Altogether. They have a few albums and their music is really good!

[@26mic]

I make entertaining vids as wel my brother

[@kingpatrick1265]

This is unironically one of the best country songs to come out in my recent memory. But what else could I expect from the legendary BDG

[@mickeysadvocate3911]

Obviously the song is awesome, but the moment that truly sells it and tells me that Brian completely understands the genre he is writing, is “who liked to PLAY with knives” Just perfect.

[@WatchVidsMakeLists]

What do you mean

[@fangfirebird100]

The absolute pure bard energy hits right every time. This man can make an epic tale out of anything.

[@rickvanleeuwen9589]

Behind the scenes video that's actually another cowboy ballad about how he went to the thrift store and found a funny pumpkin

[@thejest69]

thought it was going to just be a shitpost but then was genuinely invested

[@deolamitico]

PUMPKIN COWBOOOOY

[@HiyoruMikiyazoya]

Brian's the kind of guy to play a comedian bard that does stand up while tripping his laughing foes with a net for his friends to stab to death like an asshole

[@brendonhavener]

Bard energy? It's a spaghetti western song, it's definitely singing cowboy energy. This isn't the middle ages.

[@starhawk7553]

This is actually like the perfect fairy tale to tell a young child, this feels like the kind of video id watch as a kid then get mad nostalgia for in 10 years

[@MrZestyOnion]

10/10 would listen to on tape during a road trip as I drift off into a warm summer’s nap

[@emilysmith2965]

True. “Violence is wrong. No, seriously, all the time. You will never think it was worth it.” Very folktale-y message

[@LimbsAndGames]

I've already seen a few comments from parents saying their kids are obsessed with this song so... I think you're right

[@orbita7167]

I love the detail that after cat cowboy dies, we never see Pumpkin Cowboy from the front again except as a reflection at the end. A perfect way to get at the character’s mindset while working around the problem that he’s stuck always smiling.

[@Arachninja752]

2:17 Paint me like one of your French gourds.

[@eggduck2881]

Underrated comment, bravo

[@FancyShrimpp]

I think you just won at life

[@iidentity5380]

It can’t be overstated how much I love the tension in waiting to see if “Flesh and Blade!” resolved into “then swayed” or “unscathed” I genuinely feared for Pumpkin Cowboy the first time.

[@JackFoz454]

Don't get me started on 'Pumpkin kneeled beside' waiting to resolve into 'Pumpkin Cowboy cried' or... no, I can't say it.

[@ryanmoran8787]

i heard "swayed" and thought the next line would be something like "cowboy gazed upon the jackolantern he had made"

[@alexandermacdonald5806]

I was thinking it was going to be "was spayed"

[@bilalkawsara9539]

@@alexandermacdonald5806 You're a creative monstrosity.

[@evanwheeler7687]

"the first time" lol

[@Legov7]

Perfectly incorporating the line "A 'kerchef tied round his neck/waist" into the rhythm and rhyme of the song is truly impressive.

[@watchableraven3517]

No replies because there's nothing more that needs to be said

[@tunnelsnake420]

@@watchableraven3517 so why did you say more?

[@thatsstoguy]

@@tunnelsnake420 why did YOU say more

[@vehicularmanslaater8083]

@@thatsstoguy WHY did YOU say more?

[@cheyenne8698]

@@vehicularmanslaater8083 why did YOU say more?!

[@liam_the_shades]

Everyone has a story of thinking this was a joke, then getting SUPER invested in the legend of Pumpkin Cowboy

[@AnimatedTerror]

See what we have here is the tragic story of a pacifist being forced to compromise his morals in order to save the life of a close friend and possibly countless others. It doesn’t matter if the person killed was evil or not, to him, a life is a life. And that can really mess with a person. That’s how we know that pumpkin cowboy was a true hero. He didn’t revel in victory, because to him it wasn’t a victory because a life was taken.

[@quietsamurai1998]

Puppets, hurdy gurdies, rollerblading, music, hair styling, darts, cooking, DIY fashion, self employment... BDG is a true Renaissance man!

[@ChuckD99]

@peace stahp

[@miamackenzie9946]

He’s the true pioneer of being your own boss

[@slabofbeef8065]

you know the renaissance men are coming to town soon

[@caligena]

Don't forget as well adapting a number of Abba songs into Halloween villain themes

[@JasonGulbin]

@mr nobody I reported all of your spam lmao

[@ghospeas9625]

The pumpkin crying for the cat was probably the best character development I've seen in a vegetable.

[@zacharymorris3775]

It's not character development. Pumpkin cowboy was already at this point since the beginning of the story: he despises violence and tried to plead with the cat at first. He just regretted that the cat ended up dying

[@austinbeale2054]

@@zacharymorris3775 He is also a fruit

[@christendrake2823]

@@austinbeale2054 I absolutely love this entire comment series

[@WaberBlobble]

I agree, but also clearly you've never seen Veggie Tales my legume-inclined friend.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

@@zacharymorris3775 The way I interpret it, this was also Pumpkin Cowboy's motive to leave the town behind. He felt that, by killing a fellow cowboy, he had failed in his moral obligation to defend everyone. That's the internal conflict; despite being the town's hero, Pumpkin Cowboy has this weight on his conscience, and he believes that the townsfolk, as well as his beloved cows, deserve better.

[@carljones4179]

He didn't need to go so hard on "play with knives" bit but of course he did and it was glorious

[@masonkennedy8089]

The high ending note of “our hero wasn’t found” just holds so much weight and emotion. It doesn’t follow the same key structure as the previous lines, which makes it feel unsatisfying and finished, which is the intent because it reflect pumpkin cowboy’s life. He was unable to live his life how he wanted anymore because he failed to live to his own morale code. The man he was is no more, and so he had to leave all of this dead man’s life behind to find a new purpose, his work unfinished, his life left behind unsatisfied. Such excellent work, such a powerful line

[@hallo_talo]

Something that gets me about this one is the character build for pumpkin cowboy/cowboy cat. Pumpkin cowboy hates violence, and is all around a good boy. We get to the major moment of conflict and cowboy cat, the cat that ruined lives, says the line "the thing he wanted most was to inflict pain". Cowboy cat got exactly what he wanted, he put blood on the hands of the innocent. I hope pumpkin cowboy was able to process that difficult moment and grow into the gourd we all know he can be.

[@johnlittle8045]

I mean, I dunno that Pumpkin Cowboy actually *did* inflict pain. It's ambiguous, but it seems to me that Cowboy Cat stabbed himself in the face of Pumpkin Cowboy's sudden show of bravery

[@corpupine3505]

@@johnlittle8045 I think that's what the previous commenter was getting at. Maybe Cat Cowboy was the one who killed himself, maybe Pumpkin Cowboy did it. But the thing that inflicted pain was not the knife, it was the emotional toll that it took on Pumpkin Cowboy to experience this. Cat Cowboy didn't care *how* he hurt Pumpkin Cowboy, he just wanted to hurt him. The loss of innocence is the true pain inflicted on Pumpkin Cowboy.

[@Killericon]

@@corpupine3505 Basically, Pumpkin Cowboy is Batman and Cat Cowboy is the Joker and he got Batman to break his No Killing rule.

[@johnlittle8045]

@@corpupine3505 Ahh, I getcha. Yes, in a real sense damage was done

[@DPadGamer]

I can't help but wonder if this all spawned from BDG wandering around a thrift store and stumbling across a particularly odd looking pumpkin toy. Great video.

[@SaddestClown]

guranteed. that has to be the origin story.

[@startracings]

According to twitter, it's Karen's find actually! But yes now he's a star.

[@sapphic_sophie]

Exactly. Reminds me of being a kid and making up stories with my siblings about my family’s weird Christmas ornaments.

[@paultaylor6873]

Oh it absolutely was

[@sugarcandykiddycat1986]

Oh definitely

[@Jasmineee3000]

Whoever puppeteered the lasso (post haste) absolutely nailed it

[@julesdragons]

2 different commenters have said their babies love this song so I will be playing it for my baby sister when she is born

[@aligningducks5887]

:)

[@flamefangstar]

Did you?

[@Samwiscomb]

My 10 month old daughter and I have watched this 3 times in a row and she just dances the whole time.

[@Corbomite_Meatballs]

It'll spare you from Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, or that shark one.

[@grapes6081]

He did NOT have to go so hard singing "gorgeous tale" because christ that was heavenly

[@prismarinium]

.... you mean "gourd-geous tale"

[@grapes6081]

damn walked right into that one

[@deloptin545]

@@grapes6081 nope, if you turn on subtitles, that's literally what it says

[@grapes6081]

so it does. it appears that im a fool

[@brianbethea3069]

The harmony there is just so lovely. Jonah did a great job with the arrangement.

[@Relic5150]

I'm not sure who loves this more...me or my 20 month old son. We watch it continuously together. He grieves for cat cowboy. Our condolences.

[@TheReadingWerewolf]

I love the fact that there is literally positively no way to ever predict what you will find on this channel

[@tigeryoung5622]

So proud of Brian for bringing himself to film those horse scenes. Truly an artist sacrificing for their art.

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes fax...

[@hahanosrryggl223]

@@recitationtohear Not the place to proselytize. That's just rude

[@ThatFoxxoLeo]

@@hahanosrryggl223 Thank you for introducing me to a new word.

[@tatltails3923]

That might be what Karen was there for /j

[@tahsintariq8757]

Really sad that we only have about 8 more years

[@imapancake3485]

im guessing that BDG just found those puppets and just said 'now, could i turn this into a brilliant 5min musical' and he just pitched the idea to a couple of friends and they were like 'yes' and now we have this masterpiece

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Apparently Karen was the one who found the puppet, but the rest seems true.

[@kendallstauffer689]

"And they said he was a devilish man who liked to PLAY with KNIVES!" I'm scared now that anytime I hear the phrase "play with knives" I'm going to double over in laughter at a very inappropriate time. I rewatch this video on loop just for that moment.

[@franklinstein561]

This tale has woven itself into the depths of my soul as a comfort video for a lifetime. I'm autistic, so I get into these periods where I am comforted by like a very simple video. I will watch them over and over again and be filled with the same amount of satisfaction, or excitement, or joy. There are few others that hold this title: a minecraft tutorial for a hobbit hole and a very specific episode of The Magic School Bus. Excellent job, Mr. Brian, I commend you on your ability to weave such a lovely yet thrilling and moving tale.

[@alixabrahams4028]

Which episode I need to know

[@zynklin664]

Also I need to know this

[@AlexaWilson12]

I'm also autistic and SAME I have a small collection I've downloaded and stored on multiple devices/USB sticks in case they get taken down someday. Pumpkin cowboy is on that list

[@BradleyTurmel]

Is the Hobbit hole video made by PaulSoaresJR?

[@franklinstein561]

@@BradleyTurmel No, actually, however it IS made by Zaypixel :)

[@ashleylunette2187]

This is actually so heartbreaking. Pumpkin Cowboy couldn't live with the incidental death of Cat Cowboy, and roamed the dessert for the rest of his days in search of peace. I love you, Pumpkin Cowboy, and I hope you're doing ok out there

[@TransSappho]

Maybe he’ll find peace someday. We can only hope

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Nobody knows what truly happened to Pumpkin Cowboy all those years ago. But a local legend has it that his spirit still watches over all the cattle in the town, and, if you listen closely in the night, you can still hear him crying over the death of his feline rival.

[@ashleylunette2187]

@@TransSappho your username is godly✨ /g

[@TransSappho]

@@ashleylunette2187 thanks! Also my name is Ashley too lol

[@ashleylunette2187]

@@TransSappho oh nice! Love the name ofc, thats why I have it haha

[@Astalart]

As someone who is studying storytelling and animation I can safely say that this is a pumpkin cowboy

[@teathomas]

Thank you for your expertise I thought my eyes had deceived me

[@EnderBanned]

Oh, my gosh, that's what it was?! I thought it was an eggplant pirate!

[@__8120]

Many thanks for your confirmation. I had my suspicions but I didn't dare to assume

[@bb010g]

_(🎵 pumpkin cowboy 🎵)_

[@WaberBlobble]

Excellent gourd analysis, thank you for your scientific contribution.

[@bananavery6760]

I was so sure going in that this would be another goofy wacky weird youtube video. But holy honk the narrative of this 5 minute video is actually really compelling. Shows that you don't need a huge budget to make a good story.

[@roniemena]

I just can't imagine a past where Pumpkin Cowboy didn't exist.

[@RonaldFinger]

this was everything I didn't know I needed

[@Spanii1]

glad to found you here, you both are such an inspiration

[@fearghaldunne4340]

me too

[@kurczaczak]

This tastes like umami

[@randonb-l200]

Pumpkin Cowboy is an enticing and gripping tragedy that explores the themes of mortality, guilt and a pumpkin being a cowboy. 10 pumpkins out of 10

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

There aren't nearly enough tales that explore the theme of a pumpkin being a cowboy.

[@tarumiachi]

SEND HELP I LITERALLY ADDICTED TO THIS???

[@splogxyz3339]

SAME I MAKE SURE TO WATCH IT EVERYDAY AND IVE LITERALLY DRAWN PUMPKIN COWBOY AND COWBOY CAT ON MY NOTES AT SCHOOL???? THIS IS INSANE

[@amandariggs8515]

I can't explain it, but this song seriously soothes my 3 month old. He'll be full on screaming his head off until I put Pumpkin Cowboy on!

[@junetunes3797]

The only cowboy I've ever seen actually hanging out with cows. Nice.

[@mattduffyw99]

most cowboys I see are all bull and no cattle

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

All these other cowboys are focused on gunslingin' and quick drawin'. Pumpkin Cowboy doesn't want any of that. He just wants to live peacefully with his cattle.

[@ceinwenhorth6250]

I just want to give Pumpkin Cowboy a hug and tell him it wasn’t his fault that Cowboy Cat died. He doesn’t deserve to hold that guilt

[@snufkin8940]

Ouchy..

[@emilioyvargas]

Hope he's doing ok

[@MoonShadowWolfe]

Oh dear. Thank you for that warning, I had a pet die recently and I am now going to bail.

[@CharliHarveyMusic]

Jesus dude careful with spoilers like that. riveting shit here.

[@SpaceBunnyVinn]

@@CharliHarveyMusic shut up im still sad about the cat right now

[@Jasmineee3000]

It’s been 4 weeks now and I still can’t stop coming back to hear the tragic tale of pumpkin cowboy

[@krissa9664]

SAME Im a sobbing mess every time i watch

[@zephyr4254]

This story fills me with unexplainable comfort and softness

[@zephyrw2173]

That makes two of us

[@pink-mo9kw]

I feel this

[@matthewpettyjohn8532]

I like that everyone thinks this was dreamed up by Brian exploring a thrift store. I choose to think this is what Brian had always wanted to do. This is what his career has always been leading towards.

[@bat7696]

His Magnum Opus

[@KratonWolf]

@@bat7696 I thought that would be when he finally gets to play the part of Luigi/Waluigi in the inevitable Waluigi film.

[@bat7696]

@@KratonWolf of course! How foolish I've been!

[@ilonachan]

@@KratonWolf true but still a close second

[@eliburry-schnepp6012]

At was actually Karen exploring a flea market

[@grace1458]

I’ve watched this like six times now, and the line “it was well known through the prairie, cowboy cat had 🎵Ruined Lives🎵” hits like a drug every time

[@azhart_4369]

1:21

[@joshriley2936]

For me, it's 2:11 - 2:30, especially the last bit. The way they sung "disappeared" is just too good.

[@microlunchbox2657]

I can’t manage to watch it more than once, its too heart moving, I might end up crying

[@chitchcock2468]

God the ending at 4:08 is just immaculate, like the song is giving us the best resolution to the tale of this gourd with a heart of gold, thank you Brian :,)

[@fantsypants8313]

I personally believe that Cowboy Cat was the same heroic cowboy that Pumpkin Cowboy was, but encountered a similar tragedy. The story will cycle and Pumpkin Cowboy will reach the same fate, eventually driven mad by grief

[@seven471]

This comment deserves more likes. It's deep.

[@sawyerkettler4612]

@@seven471 it's deep? well that's something I never thought I'd hear about a Pumpkin Cowboy

[@Aredtyg]

Pumpkin Cowboy is dead. "Some say" he sought greener pastures, depicted in the video with him on his horse, but he left his horse behind. Spot on with the driven mad by grief bit, though

[@thomashirsch4302]

Just wanted to give big props to the subtitles for including "gourd-geous" near the end. Didn't want that excellent gag to go unacknowledged. Anyhow, a brilliant piece of BDG content.

[@keenywah6349]

Thank you for reminding me! BDG always has amazing subtitles - it’s awesome 💚

[@riverbabbles]

I did not notice that, bless you for pointing it out

[@azizabrown]

I’ve watched this like 6 times and I never noticed!

[@benjkitz]

I heard the lyric and did wonder if that was the pun he was going for, skipped back and watched with subtitles to confirm

[@Kira-rd7id]

Frankly I just really appreciate the written subs in general. My hearing is fine but the part of my brain that filters noise is pretty messy so I can’t understand song lyrics.

[@Ani]

brian i expected this to be a funny bit and go on for a minute how did you write goddamn "pumpkin cowboy" into a compelling 5 minute song

[@AxxLAfriku]

go to schol becase teecher says go to schol? am i circus animel or what? i make yt videes becase thats my dreem. liv my dreem is what i do. thats what i do. hopefooly the videes are good for you deer ani

[@ophiuchus_kin]

He didn't, this is actually an epic poem to a true legend

[@andrewtierney1218]

Me at 2 minutes in: “wow I can’t believe this goes on for 3 more minutes” Me at 5 minutes in: what? No! It can’t be over so soon!

[@26mic]

I make entertaining vids as wel

[@noimnotgoingtoenteraname]

This is the only verified commenter I trust comments from

[@alluviumboar]

It’s wonderful how Pumpkin Cowboy had become a character so beloved by children.

[@aqfanatic]

i really wish he made behind the scenes videos because i would love to see the raw footage of bdg just playing with puppets in front of a green screen

[@flamefangstar]

might be on his patreon?

[@annamonson212]

1:27 "and he like to PLay with KNives" gets me every time. Also this song is just a delight. I want to watch it forever on a soft bed on a saturday morning and then have it so gently seared into my brain i hum it wherever I go.

[@screamsformemes]

Yeah that's me with It's Time To Get Good At Darts, Alone in My Apartment, and I'm Not Superstitious But I Am Afraid To Prune My Money Tree.

[@poire-a-doxe]

Currently watching this in my bed on a Saturday morning and I hope you can feel the good vibes I'm sending so that you can experience it too 💚

[@koacado]

@Risma ajisona can you please STOP??

[@TheLangenator]

@@koacado it's a bot, just report spam and move on

[@tiagobsreis]

Somehow the cat makes a very frightening expression at that moment. I predict he's getting some puppet acting awards for this.

[@FrumiousBandersnatch42]

I think at this point Brian David Gilbert should become an adjective, because this video is increadibly BDG-esque. It makes us think at first like it's gonna be a childish, infantile video with a silly and funny song about a pumpkin cowboy; then this masterpiece reveals itself to be an amazing tragic story conveyed through a high quality artistic video. Truly the most BDG-esque shit in the world.

[@Silverwind87]

Zjierb, the word you're looking for is Zjierb.

[@gremlinman9724]

do you think it's cuz bdg made the video or is that unrelated

[@MemoryOfGravy]

@@Silverwind87 The video was slightly squishier than you expected it to be?

[@Tree-Salmon]

I'd just call it a gesamtkunstwerk

[@Topcatyo.]

BDG energy

[@jamxiety4672]

This is better than anything mcu has put out in years

[@davoshvosh123]

Out of all the brilliant things Brian has done, i keep coming back to this more often than i expected. Its such a superb narrative

[@whimsicalstray]

Masterpiece. Please take as long as you wish on the feature film. Don't rush perfection. I'll gladly wait.

[@recitationtohear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqe1g6muoZWIkKc Yes. fax..

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

It'll usher in a revival of the Western genre as we know it.

[@snipperjoey1151]

There was absolutely no reason for Brian to go so hard on "his cow had DISAPPEAAARED" at 2:20 but god bless him for doing so.

[@pkomelette4305]

hi

[@snipperjoey1151]

@@pkomelette4305 A fellow good content enjoyer.

[@samuelschuur7044]

The spoken word bit is so accurate to the genre - I just keep listening to it over and over again...

[@shockofthenew]

Single-handedly revived the Western genre.

[@alfalfairy]

That pumpkin has some of the wisest, kindest eyes I’ve seen. Perfect for the role of Pumpkin Cowboy!

[@emilysmith2965]

Pumpkin Cowboy as Himself

[@gvdr5891]

wonder who the casting director was

[@rionsanura]

The sheer pathos of the bougainvillea on the ground as the knife falls. Masterful. A thorny plant with beautiful blooms to symbolize the terrible injury that is inflicted only upon those who practice aggression.

[@bradleybergen480]

Those who live by the sword will die by the sword, truly a tale with impact far beyond the small players upon the stage. A lesson for all who seek to only inflict pain!

[@gremlinman9724]

and the fouler injury inflicted upon only those who wish to help them

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

It's a nice shift from the scenery of the rest of the video, showing hardy wood chips and straw, representing the typical ruggedness of the prairie.

[@benjaminsteenmeijer8695]

I remember watching this the first time and thinking "Wow a long song. Fun single watch, but then it's too long to listen to." I listen to this song DAILY

[@herbert2208]

This is my most listened to Song of the year, and I have zero regrets.