Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’: The Samples & Interpolations on Her New Album

For the first of the album’s radio-themed interludes, Beyoncé recruits country legend and fellow native Texan Willie Nelson to act as radio host. Before Willie hops on the mic, however, there’s a bit of station surfing that references tracks from several pillars of rock ‘n’ roll.

Those songs are as follows:

On the haunting murder fantasy “Daughter,” Beyoncé interpolates a section from the renowned aria “Caro Mio Ben.”

Entirely in Italian, Queen Bey croons: “Caro mio ben/ Credimi almen/ Senza di te/ Languisce il cor/ Il tuo fedel/ Sospira ognor/ Cessa, crudel/ Tanto rigor.”

(English Translation: “My dear beloved/ Believe me at least/ Without you/ The heart languishes/ Your faithful one/ Always sighs/ Cease, cruel one/ A lot of rigor.”)

Beyoncé, Martell and Shaboozey built this zany country-rap hybrid off a sample of the beat from Brazilian funk artist O Mandrake’s “Aquecimento Das Danadas” (with DJ Xaropinho).

For this Cowboy Carter standout, Beyoncé ropes in several classics: First, the song begins with a sample of Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hit “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” The sample serves as the background music for Bey’s playful call-and-response intro.

Later in the track, Bey interpolates another ’66 Hot 100-topper, The Beach Boys‘ “Good Vibrations,” in the refrain, “She’s pickin’ up good vibrations/ He’s lookin’ for sweet sensations.”

Towards the end of “Ya Ya,” Beyoncé coos “And lover boy, you’re so fine,” in a similar delivery to Sylvia Robinson’s “oh lover boy” on Mickey & Sylvia’s 1957 R&B No. 1 hit “Love Is Strange.”

This entire interlude is comprised of a sped-up sample of Chuck Berry’s “Oh Lousiana,” the opening track from his 1972 album San Francisco Dues.

At the very beginning of “SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN’,” Beyoncé interpolates the chorus from Patsy Cline’s classic “I Fall to Pieces,” which reached No. 12 on the Hot 100 back in 1961.

Bey sings: “I fall to pieces/ Each time I see you there/ And I miss all our secrets/ So tell me how you been.”

Patsy Cline’s version: “I fall to pieces/ Each time I see you again/ I fall to pieces/ How can I be just your friend?”

Surprise! To close out “Amen,” Beyoncé interpolates the opening track of her very own Cowboy Carter, “Ameriican Requiem.”

In “Amen,” Bey sings: “Say a prayer for what has been/ We’ll be the ones to purify our Fathers’ sins/ American Requiem/ Them old ideas are buried here/ Amen.”

In “Ameriican Requiem,” she sings: “A pretty house that we never settled in/ A funeral for fair-weather friends/ I am the one to cleanse me of my Father’s sins/ American Requiem/ Them big ideas are buried here/ Amen.”