George Strait hit the stage at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas, in November 2016 to perform a nearly two-hour set in celebration of his then-new album, Strait Out of the Box: Part II.
During the concert, George treated attendees to a number of his most beloved hits, including “Troubadour,” “Wrapped” and “Amarillo by Morning,” which he said is his “most favorite song.”
“My most favorite song that I’ve ever recorded, and it was big in the dancehalls,” said George from the stage in Gruene Hall. “People always requested this. It’s called ‘Amarillo by Morning,’ and I love singing it.”
Part of what makes “Amarillo by Morning” the definitive cowboy ode is the plaintive joy it evokes, even in the midst of broken bones and endless miles of travel. As the third verse sums up, I ain’t got a dime, but what I got is mine / I ain’t rich, but Lord I’m free. Surprisingly, this never hit the top spot for George—peaking at No. 4 in 1983—even though some consider it his signature song.
Watch George’s performance below, which was recently released on his YouTube page.
