Amarillo by Morning (song)
"Amarillo by Morning" is a country music song written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, and recorded by Stafford in 1973. Several cover versions have since been made, including a major 1983 hit for George Strait. Content. 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. Original recording. 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 recorded the song on his "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" album, released in 1973. 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. The song entered the Cash Box Country Looking Ahead chart November 3, 1973, the Cash Box Country chart on December 15, 1973, peaking at #37, the Billboard Country chart December 1, 1973, peaking at #31, the Record World Country chart December 15, 1973, peaking at #50, and Canada RPM Country chart  January 26, 1974, peaking at number 38. George Strait version. George Strait recorded the song for his 1982 album "Strait from the Heart" (LP MCA 5320), after hearing Kelly Schoppa's version. 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 #4. It has since become one of Strait's signature songs. Critical reception. 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." Other cover versions. 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. Canadian indie rock artist Fancey covered the song on his 2018 album of 1960s and 70s country songs "County Fair". Brazilian singer Zé Ramalho also recorded the song, with different lyrics. Texas Country Music Artist Jericho Burley - The Texas Gringo under the Texas Gringo Music Label covered "Amarillo by Morning" on the release of his album titled "Taco's & Codigo  in July 2021. Legacy. Amarillo by Morning" 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. 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.