"I Can Still Make Cheyenne" is a song written by

Aaron Barker Aaron Barker (born March 5, 1953 in San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter. Barker has written No. 1 songs for George Strait ("Baby Blue (George Strait song), Baby Blue", "Love Without End, Amen", "Easy Come, Easy Go ( ...

and Erv Woolsey, and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

artist

George Strait George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. In the 1980s, he was credited for ...

. It was released in August 1996 as the third single from Strait's album ''

Blue Clear Sky ''Blue Clear Sky'' is the sixteenth studio album released on April 23, 1996 by American country music artist George Strait. Certified 3× Multi-Platinum in the U.S. for sales of three million copies, the album produced four singles. The title t ...

''. The song also appears on ''

50 Number Ones ''50 Number Ones'' is the sixth compilation album by American country music singer George Strait, released on October 5, 2004. It is a compilation of his first 50 number-one country music singles, starting with 1982's " Fool Hearted Memory" and p ...

''. A live version can be heard on his album, '' For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome'', which came out in 2003. A DVD, with the same name, also features the song.

Content

The song is about the life of a

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working va ...

cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...

. The song begins with the verse, "Her telephone rang 'bout a quarter to nine. She heard his voice on the other end of the line. She wondered what was wrong this time. She never knew what his calls might bring, with a cowboy like him it could be anything, and she always expected the worst in the back of her mind." A phone call from a cowboy on the road to his love. He regrets his long absence and lack of writing or calling but assures her that he is coming home. However, her tone alerts him that something is wrong. The

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

reveals that the woman has decided to leave him for someone she says is "sure not a rodeo man". The cowboy replies that as much as this pains him, he will go on to

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enroll ...

, referring to the most prestigious rodeo around. He was going to give up Cheyenne to be with her, one of the biggest sacrifices a cowboy could make until she said she was leaving him for another. The song describes the cowboy ending the call and leaving the phone off the hook and slowly turning around and taking one last look. He then gets in his truck and "aims it toward that Wyoming line." The lyrics leave the listener to decide if the Cowboy was neglectful of his love, or if she gave up on him for another, who was not a rodeo man. The last verse of the song repeats the first. The soulful fiddle solo at the end of the song is one of the signatures of the song.

Chart positions

"I Can Still Make Cheyenne" debuted at number 74 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of August 24, 1996.

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

Songs about cities Songs about Wyoming Songs about cowboys and cowgirls 1996 singles 1996 songs George Strait songs Song recordings produced by Tony Brown (record producer) Songs written by Aaron Barker MCA Nashville Records singles {{1996-country-song-stub