There’s something about the way George Strait sings “If Heartaches Were Horses” that makes you believe he’s lived every word of it. The song paints a picture you can almost see — a cowboy standing in the dust, hat tipped low, staring out at an endless corral of pain he never asked for. It’s a clever metaphor, sure, but it’s also heartbreak in its purest, most country form.
What makes this track so special is how effortlessly it blends wit and sorrow. On the surface, it’s a simple line: If heartaches were horses, I’d be ridin’ high. But underneath, it’s a quiet confession of loss, regret, and the weight of love that didn’t last. George doesn’t oversell it. His voice stays calm, steady — the way real cowboys handle hurt — and that restraint makes it hit even harder.
It’s one of those songs that reminds you why Strait has been called the “King of Country.” He doesn’t just tell a story; he invites you to feel it, like you’re sitting across from him at the kitchen table, coffee in hand, trading truths about love and life. Whether you’ve ridden through your own heartaches or you’re just learning the saddle’s not always smooth, this song will make you nod and say, Yeah… I know that feeling.
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Lyrics
Been in the saddle
Since the sun came up
Roundin’ up stray’s in
This ole west texas dust
She’s been packin’ her things
Since I put coffee on
By sundown she’ll be gone
Damn this ole gerth
Worn right in two
But a spare lenth of leather
And I’ll make it do
Just when I think I’ve got
Life by the reins
Home ain’t sweet home
On the range
If heartaches were horses
And hard times were cattle
I’d ride home at sunset
Sittin’ tall in the saddle
If heartaches were horses
And hard times were cattle
And she’d say she loved me
And this cowboy way of life
She’d be right beside me
When we rode home tonight
If heartaches were horses
And hard times were cattle
I’d ride home at sunset
Sittin’ tall in the saddle
If heartaches were horses
And hard times were cattle