Amarillo By Morning by George Strait Song Info
"Amarillo by Morning" is a country music song by George Strait. The song was named "#12 country song of all time" by Country Music Television in 2004. In 2010, members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. A 2003 survey of tourism-related officials by Development Counsellors International named "Amarillo by Morning" the 7th-best song about a place. Widely considered one of the best country songs of all-time, several cover versions have been made of the song written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, and recorded by Stafford in 1973.The song is sung from the point of view of a rodeo cowboy, driving at night from San Antonio to a county fair in Amarillo, that will begin the following morning. The man recounts the hardships his occupation has caused him, including divorce, broken bones, and poverty, but states that he does not regret his lifestyle: "I ain't rich/ But Lord, I'm free." George Strait recorded the song for his 1982 album Strait from the Heart. It was released on MCA as a single. The publisher's release was January 14, 1983, and the full release came February 16, 1983. The single entered the Billboard Country chart February 12, 1983, peaking at #4. It has since become one of Strait's signature songs.