
Some songs feel less like a performance and more like a personal letter. George Strait’s “I’ll Always Remember You” is one of those rare pieces. Released in 2011 on his Here for a Good Time album, it’s a heartfelt farewell wrapped in melody — a thank-you, a promise, and a blessing all at once. For many fans, it quickly became a defining song of Strait’s later career because it felt so close to who he is: humble, grateful, and deeply connected to the people who’ve stood by him.
The song was written as a kind of goodbye to touring life, a way to acknowledge the decades George spent on the road while also honoring the fans who filled every arena. But like so many great country songs, it stretches beyond that. Its chorus feels universal, speaking to anyone who’s ever had to say farewell to friends, family, or a chapter of life they’ll never forget.
What makes it truly moving is George’s delivery. He doesn’t over-sing it or push the emotion too hard. Instead, he lets the lyrics breathe, and in that space, you hear the sincerity. When he sings, “I’ll always remember you,” you believe it — not as a line in a song, but as a promise from a man who built his career on honesty and connection.
Fans often describe hearing it live as a goosebump moment. There’s a hush in the crowd, almost like a prayer, because it feels like George is talking directly to each person in the room. It’s not flashy, it’s not dressed up with theatrics — it’s pure Strait. And that’s exactly why it hits so hard.
At its core, “I’ll Always Remember You” is about gratitude — the kind that runs deep and never fades. It’s George Strait reminding us that behind the cowboy hat and the record-breaking hits is a man who doesn’t forget where he came from or who he sang for.
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Lyrics
It all started back in 1981
Our life together had just begun
I didn’t know what my future would hold
But you gave me a chance
So I set out on the road
It wasn’t easy going then
There were times I almost threw that old towel in
But you kept callin’ me back to the stage
And I finally found my place in each and every face
I’m not sayin’ I’m through by any means
There’s still things that I want to say and do
I hope you won’t forget me, ’cause we’ve shared a lot of dreams
And just know that I’ll always remember you
When I first set out on the road, I figured
I had maybe five good years to sing my songs for you folks
Well, it’s goin’ on 30 now
And I still love it just as much as I ever did
When I hear that announcer say my name
And I walk through those curtains
And see your smilin’ faces
My feet don’t touch the ground again
‘Til I walk out and get back on that bus that got me here
I don’t know how many more years I’ve got left to do this
But I figure a few
I do want you to know, though
That when I do walk off this stage for the last time
And I’m all settled in, away from all this
You won’t be far away
I’ll still hear your screams and cheers in my mind
And I’ll always remember you
I’m not sayin’ I’m through by any means
‘Cause there’s still things that I want to say and do
I hope you won’t forget me, ’cause we’ve shared a lot of dreams
And just know that I’ll always remember you
You’ve pulled me through some hard times
Hope I’ve pulled you through a few
And just know that I’ll always remember you