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Introduction
There’s something magical about the way George Strait captures the essence of the American spirit in “Cowboys and Dreamers.” Released on his 31st studio album of the same name in September 2024, this song speaks to anyone who’s ever felt caught between ambition and contentment, between chasing dreams and knowing when to be satisfied.
When I first heard those opening lines—”Some days, I feel like the last of a dying breed trying to find where I fit, somewhere between high on top of the world and fighting with calling it quits”—I felt like Strait was speaking directly to me, and probably to millions of others too. That’s his gift: making deeply personal observations feel universal.
The song wasn’t actually written by Strait himself, but by a talented trio including Jessie Jo Dillon, the late Keith Gattis, and Strait’s son Bubba. Yet it feels autobiographical, perfectly capturing Strait’s position as a country music legend in his 70s who’s seen the genre transform around him while he’s remained true to his traditional roots.
What makes “Cowboys and Dreamers” so compelling is how it celebrates the restless spirit that defines both cowboys and dreamers. The chorus acknowledges the ups and downs of pursuing passion—the lovers and leavers, the long-shot believers who “get up and kick off the dust.” There’s a bittersweet recognition that for people cut from this cloth, “too much is never enough.”
The imagery is quintessentially Western—big skies, West Texas blue eyes, greener pastures—painting a vivid picture of both physical and emotional landscapes. The production complements this perfectly with a modern traditional sound that honors country music’s roots while feeling fresh and relevant.
At its heart, this song is about the eternal struggle between settling down and moving on, between being content with what you have and yearning for something more. It’s about identity and belonging in a world that sometimes makes you feel like “the last of a dying breed.”
For Strait, who’s been in the industry for over four decades, this song feels like a reflection on his own journey—the highs of stardom, the contemplation of retirement, and the pull to keep creating that brought him back to the studio after a five-year break between albums.
“Cowboys and Dreamers” reminds us that some spirits can never be tamed, that for certain souls, the horizon will always call. And in George Strait’s warm, steady voice, that restlessness sounds not like a burden, but like a blessing.
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Lyrics
Some days, I feel like the last of a dying breed trying to find where I fit
Somewhere between high on top of the world and fighting with calling it quits
Mama says she thinks I’ve always been this way, like I was just born with it
Some days, I feel like the last of a dying breed trying to find where I fit
Cowboys and dreamers like us
Lovers and leavers and long-shot believers
Who get up and kick off the dust
We live and die for the rush
Ain’t nothing sweeter than chasing that fever
Too much is never enough
For cowboys and dreamers like us
We like our big skies, our West Texas blue eyes until they cry in the rain
We’re always after some greener pastures that won’t quit calling our name
We ride against the grain, we don’t pull back on the reins
Cowboys and dreamers like us
Lovers and leavers and long-shot believers
Who get up and kick off the dust
We live and die for the rush
Ain’t nothing sweeter than chasing that fever
Too much is never enough
For cowboys and dreamers like us
Cowboys and dreamers like us
Lovers and leavers and long-shot believers
Who get up and kick off the dust
We live and die for the rush
Ain’t nothing sweeter than chasing that fever
Too much is never enough
For cowboys and dreamers like us
Ain’t nothing sweeter than chasing that fever
And too much is never enough
For cowboys and dreamers like us
Some days, I feel like the last of a dying breed trying to find where I fit