About the song
George Strait’s “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” stands as a monumental chapter in country music history, showcasing the unparalleled talent and enduring legacy of the American country music artist. Launched as a farewell to extensive touring, this tour was a grand celebration of Strait’s illustrious career. Spanning two years, it included 21 concerts in 2013 and 27 concerts in 2014, culminating in a total of 48 performances across the United States.
The tour kicked off on January 18, 2013, in Lubbock, Texas, and concluded on June 7, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. Throughout this journey, Strait was accompanied by his renowned eleven-member touring group, the Ace in the Hole Band. Together, they delivered electrifying performances in various arenas, including six stadium dates that highlighted the tour’s expansive reach.
George Strait’s setlist was a testament to his rich catalog of hits, featuring a mix of uptempo songs and poignant ballads. Fans were treated to lively renditions of favorites such as “Here for a Good Time,” “Ocean Front Property,” “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls,” and “Troubadour.” The emotional depth of his music was evident in performances of ballads like “I Saw God Today,” “The Chair,” and “I Can Still Make Cheyenne.” Each show ended on a high note with encores including “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” and “Folsom Prison Blues,” and the grand finale was always “The Cowboy Rides Away,” a fitting tribute to the tour’s namesake song penned by Sonny Throckmorton and Casey Kelly.
The Cowboy Rides Away Tour was met with widespread acclaim. Reviewers lauded Strait’s “compelling stage presence and vocal power,” with one calling his shows “an embarrassment of riches.” The tour’s immense popularity was underscored by the fact that all 48 concerts were sold out. Notably, for the week of February 7, 2014, it was the top-grossing tour in the United States.
The tour’s final concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington was a historic event. Featuring special guest appearances by Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Jason Aldean, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, and Sheryl Crow, it drew a record-breaking attendance of 104,793 fans. This concert set records for the largest attendance at a single-show concert in the U.S. and the highest gross for a single-show country concert, with an astonishing $18,194,374.
George Strait’s influence in the country music world was further solidified with accolades such as the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year in 2013 and the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year in 2014. His journey with the Ace in the Hole Band, which began in October 1975, became a cornerstone of his live performances, lasting over three decades.
Announced on September 26, 2012, The Cowboy Rides Away Tour marked George Strait’s retirement from touring, making it a poignant and memorable farewell for fans. This tour not only celebrated his storied career but also cemented his legacy as one of country music’s most beloved artists.
Video
Lyrics
I knew the stakes were high right from the start
When she dealt the cards, I dealt my heart
Now I just found a game that I can’t play
And this is where the cowboy rides away
And my heart is sinkin’ like the setting sun
Setting on the things I wish I’d done
It’s time to say goodbye to yesterday
And this is where the cowboy rides away
We’ve been in and out of love and in-between
And now we play the final showdown scene
And as the credits roll, a sad song starts to play
And this is where the cowboy rides away
And my heart is sinkin’ like the setting sun
Setting on the things I wish I’d done
Oh, the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say
This is where the cowboy rides away
Oh, the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say
This is where the cowboy rides away