“Amarillo by Morning” is a country classic originally written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, who first recorded the song in 1973. The title was inspired by a Federal Express commercial promising delivery to Stafford’s hometown of Amarillo, Texas, while the opening lines came from Stafford’s late-night drive from San Antonio after a rodeo performance. The song depicts the lonely, impoverished life of a rodeo cowboy who remains proud of his freedom despite losing relationships and enduring physical hardships.
George Strait later transformed the track into a neotraditional Western swing anthem, releasing it on his 1982 album Strait from the Heart and as a single in January 1983. His version peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became his signature song, widely considered one of the greatest country songs of all time. Other notable early recordings were released by Terry Bullard, Chris LeDoux, and Kelly Schoppa before Strait’s definitive rendition.
The song holds poignant significance as the favorite wake-up music of Rick Husband, the commander of the STS-107 space shuttle, who was from Amarillo. The track played for the crew before the shuttle’s tragic disintegration in February 2003, forever linking the song to the fallen astronaut and his crew.
[Verse 1]
Amarillo by morning, 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 morning
Amarillo, I’ll be there
[Verse 2]
They took my saddle in Houston, broke my leg in Santa Fe
Lost my wife and a girlfriend, somewhere along the way
Well, I’ll be lookin’ for eight when they pull that gate
And I hope that judge ain’t blind
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo’s on my mind
[Verse 3]
Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone
Everything that I got is just what I’ve got on
I ain’t got a dime, but what I got is mine
I ain’t rich, but Lord, I’m free
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo is where I’ll be
[Outro]
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo is where I’ll be
