Country Music

Classic Country Music Hits

Country Music

In 1983, George Strait released “Amarillo by Morning,” a rodeo ballad that felt less like a performance and more like a reflection of his own roots. Written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, the song captured the weary resilience of a cowboy chasing arenas, knowing both the triumph and the loneliness of the road. When George sang it, his voice carried not only the words, but the authenticity of a man raised in Texas saddles, where dawn rides and quiet losses were a way of life. George once admitted, “That song just fit me — it was who I was.” Over time, “Amarillo by Morning” became more than a hit; it became an anthem, embodying the spirit of the American West. And for George Strait, it was proof that the truest music doesn’t come from chasing trends — it comes from living the life you sing about, and letting the world hear the dust, the grit, and the dignity in every note.

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Introduction

There are certain songs that feel less like hits and more like companions. Amarillo By Morning is one of those. Released in 1983, it wasn’t George Strait’s first number one, but it quickly became one of the most defining songs of his career. Written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, the tune had already lived a quiet life before George picked it up—but in his hands, it became timeless.

What makes it special is its simplicity. The lyrics don’t dress things up; they lay out the life of a rodeo cowboy with honesty and grit. The long nights, the broken bones, the empty pockets—it’s all there. But so is the freedom, the pull of the open road, and the strange kind of peace that comes with chasing a dream, no matter how rough the ride gets.

George’s delivery is what turns it into magic. He doesn’t oversing, doesn’t force emotion—he just lets the words breathe. That plainspoken Texas drawl makes you believe every line, like he’s been on that road to Amarillo himself. And maybe that’s why it resonates so deeply: even if we’ve never ridden bulls or packed up for a rodeo, we all know what it’s like to trade comfort for something we believe in.

To this day, Amarillo By Morning is often called one of the greatest country songs ever recorded. Not because it topped every chart, but because it captures the spirit of country music itself—resilience, longing, and the beauty of a life defined not by what you have, but by what you’re willing to chase.

Video

Lyrics

Amarillo by mornin’
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I’ve got on
When that Sun is high
In that Texas sky
I’ll be buckin’ at the county fair
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo I’ll be there
They took my saddle in Houston
Broke my leg in Santa Fe
Lost my wife and a girlfriend
Somewhere along the way
But I’ll be lookin’ for eight
When they pull that gate
And I hope that
Judge ain’t blind
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo’s on my mind
Amarillo by mornin’
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I’ve got on
I ain’t got a dime
But what I’ve got is mine
I ain’t rich
But Lord, I’m free
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo’s where I’ll be
Amarillo by mornin’
Amarillo’s where I’ll be

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Country Music

Beyond the spotlight, George Strait has always carried Texas in his heart — not only in song, but in service. When floods devastated small towns, when hurricanes tore through the Gulf, or when neighbors needed help, he stepped forward quietly, lending his voice and presence to raise millions. In 2017, his leadership in the Hand in Hand: Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief reminded Texans that their King was also their neighbor. George once said, “Texas gave me everything I have — it’s only right to give back.” That humility has defined him as much as any #1 hit. For fans, his music is timeless, but for Texans, his generosity is personal. It is proof that the true measure of a legend isn’t only in the records they set, but in the lives they lift when the lights go out.

Country Music

“That song felt like my childhood — because that’s how Dad loved us.” As a boy, Bubba Strait often rode alongside his father, listening more to silence than to speeches. George wasn’t one for long lectures, but in his steady presence Bubba learned discipline, humility, and quiet strength. Years later, when George sang “Love Without End, Amen,” Bubba admitted, “That song felt like my childhood — because that’s how Dad loved us.” It wasn’t fame or stages that defined George Strait at home. It was patience in the saddle, calm guidance after mistakes, and the unshakable devotion of a father who led by example. For Bubba, those lessons became the backbone of his own life, echoing in every lyric he would one day write. And for fans, the song became more than a chart-topper — it was the soundtrack of a bond lived every day between a father and his son.

Country Music

For George Strait, no stage has ever felt closer to home than the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. From his first appearance in the 1980s to his record-breaking final concert in 2019, where over 80,000 fans filled NRG Stadium, the Rodeo became a thread woven through his career. Each performance wasn’t just a show — it was a homecoming, a Texan standing before his own. George once reflected, “There’s nothing like playing for your people, in your state.” And Houston proved it, rising to their feet each time the opening chords rang out. Those concerts cemented more than records — they defined George Strait as more than the King of Country. To Texas, he is family, a neighbor who carried their pride onto the world’s stage, and brought it back home in every encore.

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Country Music

In 1983, George Strait released “Amarillo by Morning,” a rodeo ballad that felt less like a performance and more like a reflection of his own roots. Written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, the song captured the weary resilience of a cowboy chasing arenas, knowing both the triumph and the loneliness of the road. When George sang it, his voice carried not only the words, but the authenticity of a man raised in Texas saddles, where dawn rides and quiet losses were a way of life. George once admitted, “That song just fit me — it was who I was.” Over time, “Amarillo by Morning” became more than a hit; it became an anthem, embodying the spirit of the American West. And for George Strait, it was proof that the truest music doesn’t come from chasing trends — it comes from living the life you sing about, and letting the world hear the dust, the grit, and the dignity in every note.

Country Music

Beyond the spotlight, George Strait has always carried Texas in his heart — not only in song, but in service. When floods devastated small towns, when hurricanes tore through the Gulf, or when neighbors needed help, he stepped forward quietly, lending his voice and presence to raise millions. In 2017, his leadership in the Hand in Hand: Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief reminded Texans that their King was also their neighbor. George once said, “Texas gave me everything I have — it’s only right to give back.” That humility has defined him as much as any #1 hit. For fans, his music is timeless, but for Texans, his generosity is personal. It is proof that the true measure of a legend isn’t only in the records they set, but in the lives they lift when the lights go out.

Country Music

“That song felt like my childhood — because that’s how Dad loved us.” As a boy, Bubba Strait often rode alongside his father, listening more to silence than to speeches. George wasn’t one for long lectures, but in his steady presence Bubba learned discipline, humility, and quiet strength. Years later, when George sang “Love Without End, Amen,” Bubba admitted, “That song felt like my childhood — because that’s how Dad loved us.” It wasn’t fame or stages that defined George Strait at home. It was patience in the saddle, calm guidance after mistakes, and the unshakable devotion of a father who led by example. For Bubba, those lessons became the backbone of his own life, echoing in every lyric he would one day write. And for fans, the song became more than a chart-topper — it was the soundtrack of a bond lived every day between a father and his son.

Country Music

For George Strait, no stage has ever felt closer to home than the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. From his first appearance in the 1980s to his record-breaking final concert in 2019, where over 80,000 fans filled NRG Stadium, the Rodeo became a thread woven through his career. Each performance wasn’t just a show — it was a homecoming, a Texan standing before his own. George once reflected, “There’s nothing like playing for your people, in your state.” And Houston proved it, rising to their feet each time the opening chords rang out. Those concerts cemented more than records — they defined George Strait as more than the King of Country. To Texas, he is family, a neighbor who carried their pride onto the world’s stage, and brought it back home in every encore.