Introduction
There are country songs you remember for a season, and then there are country songs that become stitched into the very fabric of life itself. For millions of Americans—especially those of us who lived through the golden years of country music—George Strait’s “Amarillo By Morning” is one of those songs.
Released in 1983, the track wasn’t just another hit on the radio. It was a cultural event, a story carried by fiddle and steel guitar, wrapped in the smooth, effortless delivery that only George Strait could give. Even today, over four decades later, it remains one of his most iconic performances, a song that country fans still lean on like an old friend.
For those of us who remember where we were when “Amarillo By Morning” first played, the memories are vivid. Maybe you were driving an old pickup down a dusty road, the AM radio crackling with Strait’s voice. Maybe you were at a local dance hall, boots shuffling on the floor as the song poured through the speakers. Or maybe you just sat alone, letting the lyrics remind you of the hard roads we all walk at some point in life.
What makes “Amarillo By Morning” so powerful isn’t just its melody—it’s the story behind it. The song captures the spirit of a rodeo cowboy, chasing dreams from town to town, enduring broken bones, empty pockets, and endless miles of highway. And yet, through all the hardship, there’s resilience, pride, and a quiet dignity. It speaks to anyone who has ever fought through tough times, anyone who has kept going when the world tried to knock them down.
George Strait’s rendition turned that story into something bigger than music. It became a reflection of America itself—our grit, our struggles, and our stubborn hope that tomorrow might be better, even if today is hard. No wonder it still sends chills down the spine when those opening fiddle notes play.
For those of us now in our fifties, sixties, and beyond, the song carries even more weight. It’s not just about a cowboy anymore—it’s about us. It’s about the battles we’ve faced, the losses we’ve endured, and the strength it took to keep moving forward. “Amarillo By Morning” is no longer just a rodeo anthem. It has become a life anthem.
George Strait, often called the “King of Country,” has had dozens of hits, but this one stands apart. It doesn’t rely on flashy production or complicated storytelling. Its beauty is in its simplicity, and in the way it connects to the very heart of human experience.
Even now, when the younger generation hears the song, they may not know the miles we’ve traveled with it. But we do. We feel it deep in our bones, as timeless and enduring as the Texas horizon itself.
And maybe that’s the greatest gift of George Strait’s “Amarillo By Morning”: it reminds us that no matter how rough the ride, the morning always comes.
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
