“Amarillo by Morning” is a country music ballad that tells the story of a lonely rodeo cowboy. The song describes his journey from San Antonio to Amarillo, where a county fair is set to begin the next morning. Despite facing hardships such as divorce, broken bones, and poverty, the cowboy expresses contentment with his lifestyle, singing, “I ain’t rich, but Lord, I’m free.” This heartfelt tune gained fame through George Strait’s fiddle-based Western rendition in 1982, becoming one of his signature songs.
