George Strait – Carried Away

About The Song

“Carried Away” is a romantic mid-tempo country ballad recorded by George Strait for his fifteenth studio album, Blue Clear Sky. The album was released on April 23, 1996, by MCA Nashville Records. The song was written by Steve Bogard and Jeff Stevens, with production handled by Tony Brown and George Strait. It runs 3 minutes and 29 seconds and features a smooth, swaying groove with prominent steel guitar and fiddle accents, perfectly suiting Strait’s effortless vocal style.

The lyrics depict a man helplessly falling in love despite knowing the relationship might be risky, describing how he gets “carried away” by emotion and attraction. The chorus hook and Strait’s delivery make it one of the standout romantic tracks from his mid-1990s catalog. Blue Clear Sky marked a high point in Strait’s commercial dominance, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 7 on the Billboard 200. It was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA for shipments exceeding three million copies in the United States.

“Carried Away” was released as the second single from the album in June 1996, following the title track “Blue Clear Sky,” which had reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The single debuted at No. 71 on the Hot Country Songs chart and steadily climbed, reaching No. 1 on September 7, 1996, where it spent one week at the top. This marked Strait’s 30th No. 1 hit on the Billboard country chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the Radio & Records country chart and crossed over modestly to No. 9 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100.

Other singles from Blue Clear Sky included “Blue Clear Sky” (No. 1), “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” (No. 4), and “King of the Mountain” (No. 19). The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album in 1997 and won Album of the Year at the 1996 Academy of Country Music Awards. Songwriters Steve Bogard and Jeff Stevens were established Nashville talents; Stevens later co-wrote “True” for Strait in 1998.

The official music video, directed by Michael Salomon, features Strait performing in classic Western attire against scenic Texas landscapes, intercut with romantic vignettes that mirror the song’s theme. It premiered on CMT in the summer of 1996 and became one of Strait’s most recognized videos from that era. By the mid-1990s, George Strait had already amassed dozens of No. 1 hits, and “Carried Away” further solidified his reputation as the “King of Country” with its timeless appeal and radio dominance.

The track remains a concert favorite and appears on numerous compilations, including 50 Number Ones (2004) and The Very Best of George Strait (2008). Its enduring popularity stems from the relatable story and Strait’s impeccable phrasing.

Video

Lyric

Today I heard the news about the storm
They said it was gonna hit us hard tonight
But I don’t care if the rain comes down
‘Cause I’m already soaked from your goodbye

You said you had to go, had to leave
That you couldn’t stay another day
But the way you looked at me
Told me you wanted to stay

And I got carried away
I didn’t mean to fall in love
But I got carried away
When I saw your face
I knew right then
I’d never be the same
I got carried away

Now every time I see a storm roll in
I think about that night we said goodbye
And how the lightning flashed across your skin
And how I couldn’t help but cry

You said we’d always be friends
But I knew that was just a line
‘Cause the way you held my hand
Told me you’d always be mine

And I got carried away
I didn’t mean to fall in love
But I got carried away
When I saw your face
I knew right then
I’d never be the same
I got carried away

I got carried away
Yeah, I got carried away