About The Song
“I Can Still Make Cheyenne” is a country ballad written by Aaron Barker and Erv Woolsey. It was recorded by George Strait for his sixteenth studio album, Blue Clear Sky, released on April 23, 1996, by MCA Nashville. Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait, the track features a sparse, traditional arrangement highlighted by acoustic guitar, fiddle, and steel guitar, allowing Strait’s emotive vocal performance to carry the narrative. The album debuted at number one on both the Billboard Top Country Albums and Billboard 200 charts, earning 3× Multi-Platinum certification from the RIAA.
The single was released in August 1996 as the fourth and final from the album, following “Blue Clear Sky,” “Carried Away,” and “King of the Mountain.” It debuted at number 41 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and reached number two in November 1996, held off the top spot by Alan Jackson’s “Home.” The song spent 20 weeks on the chart and also peaked at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became one of Strait’s signature storytelling songs, contributing to the album’s sweep of Album of the Year honors at the 1996 CMA and ACM Awards.
The lyrics unfold as a late-night phone conversation between a rodeo cowboy and his wife back home. He calls excitedly from Cheyenne, Wyoming, announcing he’s won enough to return after the next rodeo. She calmly reveals she’s leaving him for someone who stays home, saying, “She just wants to be gone.” Devastated but resigned, he tells the rodeo secretary on the line, “I can still make Cheyenne,” choosing the rodeo circuit over returning to an empty home. The structure builds tension through the one-sided dialogue, culminating in the poignant final line.
Aaron Barker, who previously penned Strait hits like “Baby Blue” and “Love Without End, Amen,” collaborated with Erv Woolsey—Strait’s longtime manager—for the first time. Woolsey drew inspiration from real rodeo experiences, noting how cowboys often prioritized the next event despite personal costs. Barker refined the concept, crafting the phone-call format that heightens the emotional impact. Strait selected the song for its authenticity, later calling it one of his favorites in interviews.
Critics widely praised the track’s narrative depth and Strait’s restrained delivery. Country Universe awarded it an A grade, calling it a “masterclass in understated heartbreak,” while outlets like American Songwriter highlighted its vivid rodeo imagery and universal theme of sacrifice. The song’s enduring popularity stems from its relatable portrayal of the rodeo lifestyle’s toll on relationships, resonating with fans and rodeo communities alike.
No major charted covers exist, but the track appears on Strait compilations including 50 Number Ones (2004) and Strait Out of the Box: Part II (2016). It remains a concert staple, often performed with minimal instrumentation to emphasize the story, and stands as one of Strait’s most acclaimed 1990s recordings during his peak commercial and critical era.
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Lyric
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 mindHe said, “It’s cold out here and I’m all alone
Didn’t make the short go again, and I’m coming home
I know I’ve been away too long
I never got a chance to write or call
And I know this rodeo has been hard on us all
But I’ll be home soon
And honey, is there somethin’ wrong?”She said, “Don’t bother comin’ home
By the time you get here I’ll be long gone
There’s somebody new and he sure ain’t no rodeo man”
He said, “I’m sorry it’s come down to this
There’s so much about you that I’m gonna miss
But it’s alright baby
If I hurry I can still make Cheyenne
Gotta go now baby
If I hurry I can still make Cheyenne”He left that phone danglin’ off the hook
Then slowly turned around and gave that bar a look
Then he turned and said to no one there
Except the silence hanging in the air
“Hello, sweetheart
Well, it’s been a while
Check my bags in and give me a smile
‘Cause if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne
Gotta go now baby
If I hurry I can still make Cheyenne”