Amarillo by Morning (song)

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." The song has appeared in several lists of the best country songs.

Stafford conceived the song after playing with his band at a rodeo in San Antonio, Texas, and then driving back to his home in Amarillo, Texas. Stafford conveyed the concept and title he pulled from a FedEx commercial to Paul Fraser over the phone and by the next morning Paul had written the song. Albright, Max. "Amarillo, A Place to Sing About". Amarillo Globe-News. September 17, 2003Moser, Margaret. [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/print?oid=188508 "The Top Texas 40: Ranking the Lone Star State in song"] - Austin Chronicle - November 28, 2003

Stafford recorded the song on his Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose album, released in 1973.Stafford, Terry, and the Nashville Edition. Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose. New York, New York: Atlantic Records. 1973. SD 7282. {{OCLC|26762481}}{{cite web|url=http://keepkey.yochanan.net/terry.htm |title=Terry Stafford Suspicion! Home Page |website=Keepkey.yochanan.net |access-date=2016-10-08}} The single was released August 2, 1973, by Atlantic Records with the master number 26867. The single "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" had been previously released as an A-side 45 (Atlantic Master 26868; June 7, 1973), but due to the success of "Amarillo by Morning", the single was re-released October 4, 1973, as the A-side (Atlantic Master 26867-1 stereo and Atlantic Master 26867-2 mono), with "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" on the B-side.Cash Box - November 17, 1973 The song entered the Cash Box Country Looking Ahead chart November 3, 1973, the Cash Box Country chart on December 15, 1973, peaking at No. 37, the Billboard Country chart December 1, 1973, peaking at No. 31, the Record World Country chart December 15, 1973, peaking at No. 50, and Canada RPM Country chart January 26, 1974, peaking at No. 38.

{{Infobox song

| name = Amarillo by Morning

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = George Strait

| album = Strait from the Heart

| B-side = Lover in Disguise

| released = January 14, 1983

| recorded = April 13, 1982

| studio = Music City Music Hall (Nashville, Tennessee)

| venue =

| genre = *Western{{cite web |title=George Strait, Troubadour |url=https://www.countryuniverse.net/2008/12/03/album-review-george-strait-troubadour/ |website=Country Universe |access-date=October 26, 2023 |date=December 3, 2008}}{{cite magazine |last1=Dauphin |first1=Chuck |title=George Strait's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/country/7842137/george-strait-songs-best-hits-list |magazine=Billboard |date=27 June 2017 |access-date=30 September 2020}}

• outlaw country{{cite web |last1=Weiner |first1=Natalie |title=Best George Strait Songs: 20 Country Anthems |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-george-strait-songs/ |website=uDiscoverMusic |access-date=19 November 2022 |date=May 18, 2022}}
• honky-tonk{{cite magazine |last1=Gold |first1=Adam |title=George Strait to Record Five New Albums |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/george-strait-to-record-five-new-albums-108938/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/w58/best-george-strait-songs-of-all-time/|title=10 Best George Strait Songs of All Time|author=Tomlin, Edward|date=August 10, 2024|publisher=Singersroom|accessdate=December 27, 2024}}
• Western swing

| length = 2:52

| label = MCA 52162

| writer = Paul Fraser
Terry Stafford

| producer = Blake Mevis

| prev_title = Marina del Rey

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = A Fire I Can't Put Out

| next_year = 1983

}}

George Strait recorded the song for his 1982 album Strait from the Heart (LP MCA 5320). It was released on MCA as a single, release number 52162. 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 No. 4.{{cite web |url=http://dickshuey.com/stories/story101.html |title=Stories |website=dickshuey.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020605143452/http://dickshuey.com/stories/story101.html |archive-date=5 June 2002 |url-status=dead}} It has since become one of Strait's signature songs.{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Elisabeth |title=George Strait: 10 Prime Hits |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1732434/george-strait-10-prime-hits/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114225737/http://www.cmt.com/news/1732434/george-strait-10-prime-hits/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |quote="You can smell the truck stop coffee when you hear this lonely anthem that became one of Strait’s signature songs after it was released in 1983." |website=CMT |access-date=April 29, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Clayton |title=On This Day in 1983, George Strait Released His Iconic Signature Hit “Amarillo by Morning” |url=https://americansongwriter.com/on-this-day-1983-george-strait-released-signature-hit-amarillo-morning/ |website=American Songwriter |access-date=January 25, 2025 |date=January 14, 2025}}

This cover woke up Rick Husband while he piloted the STS-96 scientific space mission,{{Citation |title=In Memory of Rick Husband (1957-2003) | date=February 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF7kNBv1c6Y |language=en |access-date=2022-10-16}} and was played for the entire crew during STS-114{{Cite web |title=NASA - STS-114 MCC Status Report #18 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/news/STS-114-18.html |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=www.nasa.gov |language=en}} in honor of the Amarillo-born astronaut.

"Amarillo by Morning" is widely considered to be one of Strait's best songs. Billboard and American Songwriter ranked the song number nine and number six, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest George Strait songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/george-strait-songs-best-hits-list-7842137/|title=George Strait's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks|first=Chuck|last=Dauphin|magazine=Billboard|date=June 27, 2017|accessdate=May 17, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-top-10-george-strait-songs/|title=The Top 10 George Strait Songs|first=Catherine|last=Walthall|work=American Songwriter|date=December 28, 2021|accessdate=May 17, 2022}} In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number ten on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-country-songs-1234986540/george-strait-amarillo-by-morning-1235015028/|title =The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time|magazine = Rolling Stone|date =May 24, 2014}}

Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, saying that he has "finally found his niche as a performer." He goes on to say that the "simple arrangement and understated delivery are the defining elements of just about every Strait record since."{{cite web|url=http://www.countryuniverse.net/2011/08/02/retro-single-review-george-strait-amarillo-by-morning/ |title=Retro Single Review: George Strait, "Amarillo By Morning" – Country Universe |website=Countryuniverse.net |date=2011-08-02 |access-date=2016-10-08}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=George Strait|title=Amarillo by Morning|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2025|access-date=March 19, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

The song has been covered by numerous artists, including rodeo champion Chris LeDoux in 1975 on his album Life as a Rodeo Man, Asleep at the Wheel and John Arthur Martinez on his 2004 album Lone Starry Night.

South Texas recording artist Clifton Jansky from San Antonio recorded the song in November 1979 in Ludwig Studios in Houston, Texas. He had a regional hit in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. Three years later, he exchanged soundtracks with Kelly Schoppa in Houston. He traded his soundtrack to "Amarillo by Morning" for a duet that Kelly had recorded in Nashville with Janie Fricke and no money changed hands.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}{{clarify|date=February 2021}}

Canadian indie rock artist Fancey covered the song on his 2018 album of 1960s and 1970s country songs County Fair.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/fancey-amarillo_by_morning|title = Fancey "Amarillo by Morning" | Exclaim!}} Brazilian singer Zé Ramalho also recorded the song, with different lyrics.

Country music singer John Rich covered the song from the television special George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert.

In 2025, Charley Crockett included a cover of the song on his album Lonesome Drifter.

"Amarillo by Morning" was named "No. 12 country song of all time" by Country Music Television in 2004.Flippo, Chet, and Country Music Television Network. CMT 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard. 2004. {{ISBN|0-634-06352-9}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/76600/episode_countdown.jhtml |title=CMT.com : Shows : The Greatest : 100 Greatest Songs - Show 1 (Songs 100-76) [TV-PG] : Countdown |access-date=2007-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828221508/http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/76600/episode_countdown.jhtml |archive-date=2007-08-28 }} In 2010, members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.{{cite web|title=The Top 100 Western Songs |author=Western Writers of America |year=2010 |author-link=Western Writers of America |publisher=American Cowboy |url=http://www.americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019002745/http://americancowboy.com/culture/top-100-western-songs |archive-date=19 October 2010 |url-status=dead }} A 2003 survey of tourism-related officials by Development Counsellors International named "Amarillo by Morning" the 7th-best song about a place.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2003-09-15-newyork_x.htm |title='New York' tops place songs |website=Usatoday.com |date=2003-09-15 |access-date=2016-10-08}}

The song is regularly played at rodeos.

The song was parodied by hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the 2013 Country Music Association Awards as "Obamacare by Morning", which mocked technical problems with that year's rollout of the federal HealthCare.gov website as part of the Affordable Care Act.{{cite web |title=Paisley, Underwood skewer ACA with 'Obamacare By Morning' spoof |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/paisley-underwood-skewer-aca-with-obamacare-by-morning-spoof/281-307810526 |date=November 7, 2013 |work=KING}}

{{Reflist}}

{{George Strait 1980s singles}}

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Category:Songs about cowboys and cowgirls

Category:1973 singles

Category:1983 singles

Category:1973 songs

Category:Terry Stafford songs

Category:George Strait songs

Category:Songs about Texas

Category:Songs about cities in the United States

Category:Songs written by Terry Stafford

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:MCA Nashville Records singles