GEORGE STRAIT

written by Dean Dillon and Carson Chamberlain

produced by Tony Brown

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One of the most popular, famous and acclaimed country music

artists of all time (I said one of, Garth), George Strait’s been wowing

his audiences for over 40 years now. With his endless string of #1

hits through the ’80s, ’90s and 20-00s, his success is undeniable.

He hails from Texas, and since the turn of the ’80s, he’s maintained an ageless recording deal with very country-friendly MCA Records.

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Like a couple of other, older Strait songs, this one was originally brought to my attention by a middle-school friend of mine (whom I’ll probably be referencing in a number of these songs, songs that I know because of him). The story’s simple and beautiful, detailing a close and loving relationship between father and son, and the gestures the former makes for the latter to absolutely make his days. It carries a purely happy, positive vibe from beginning to end, which, frankly, we can’t say for all country songs.

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This song was very difficult for me to locate on CD in the earlier days, I remember. I then found it that it was because it was recorded especially for George’s best-of package Latest Greatest Straitest Hits in 1999, and released in 2000. The song’s appeared on a couple of other Strait compilations since, but in the days I was looking for it, LGSH was its only source.

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This song’s page is another Father’s Day tribute. It’s now June 21st, 2021 as I’m making this page, which means that this year in America, Father’s Day was yesterday. Time got away before I could make the pages for all the Dad-celebrating songs I could think of, but that’s all right; one-seventh of all Father’s Days have also fallen on June 21st, so consider the holiday simply held over.

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Have notes to add? Let me know!

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YT:

full version

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George’s official website

Lyrics

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We loaded up my old station wagon / With a tent, a Coleman and sleepin’ bags / Some fishin’ poles, a cooler of Cokes / Three days before we had to be back / When you’re seven, you’re in seventh heaven / When you’re goin’ campin’ in the wild outdoors / As we turned off on that old dirt road / He looked at me and swore / “Dad, this could be the best day of my life / I’ve been dreamin’ day and night about the fun we’ll have / Just me and you, doin’ what I’ve always wanted to / I’m the luckiest boy alive / This is the best day of my life” / His fifteenth birthday rolled around / Classic cars were his thing / When I pulled in the drive with that old ’Vette / I thought that boy would go insane / When you’re in your teens / Your dreams revolve around four spinning wheels / We worked nights on end till it was new again / And as he sat behind the wheel, he said / “Dad, this could be the best day of my life / I’ve been dreamin’ day and night about the fun we’ve had / Just me and you, doin’ what I’ve always wanted to / I’m the luckiest boy alive / This is the best day of my life” / Standin’ in a little room / Back of the church with our tuxes on / Lookin’ at him, I say / “I can’t believe, son, that you’re grown” / He said / “Dad, this could be the best day of my life / I’ve been dreamin’ day and night of bein’ like you / Now it’s me and her, watchin’ you and Mom, I’ve learned / I’m the luckiest man alive / This is the best day of my life / I’m the luckiest man alive / This is the best day of my life”

first release: Latest Greatest Straitest Hits (2000/03/07)