About the song
“I Can Still Make Cheyenne.” Released in 1996 as a single from his highly successful album Blue Clear Sky, this track soared to number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, solidifying its place as a quintessential cowboy anthem. It’s far more than just a hit song; it’s a devastatingly honest portrayal of sacrifice, unyielding passion, and the painful choices one sometimes has to make in pursuit of a dream.
The lyrics of “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” tell a raw and deeply emotional story, centered around a heartbreaking phone call between a rodeo cowboy on the road and his wife back home. She delivers the crushing news that she’s leaving him, unable to endure the constant loneliness and his perpetual absence. The cowboy, caught between his love for his wife and his ingrained devotion to the rodeo, struggles with the news. Despite the world seemingly falling apart around him, his immediate, almost instinctive reaction to the finality of the call is the stoic, almost defiant line, “I Can Still Make Cheyenne.” This phrase isn’t just about a physical destination; it represents his unwavering commitment to his chosen path, even at an immense personal cost. It’s a testament to the idea that some passions run so deep they become inseparable from one’s identity, even if it means losing everything else. The song beautifully conveys the quiet devastation of the call, the internal conflict, and the ultimate, heartbreaking resolution of a man who understands the price of his dream.
George Strait’s vocal performance on “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” is a masterclass in understated emotion. His smooth, effortless baritone is perfectly suited to conveying the cowboy’s weary resolve and deep, yet controlled, heartache. He doesn’t over-dramatize the pain; instead, he delivers the lyrics with a quiet resignation and an underlying strength that makes the listener feel the weight of his choices. There’s an inherent sincerity in his voice that makes the narrative utterly believable, as if he himself has lived these choices. Strait’s brilliance lies in his ability to imbue complex emotions into a straightforward delivery, making the song resonate deeply without resorting to vocal histrionics.
The musical arrangement of “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” is classic, traditional country balladry, perfectly complementing its melancholic theme. It features a prominent, weeping steel guitar that evokes the loneliness of the road and the cowboy’s inner sorrow, alongside a gentle acoustic guitar, a steady bass line, and a subtle fiddle. The arrangement is clean, traditional, and allows the raw emotion of the lyrics and Strait’s iconic vocal to take center stage. The production creates a somber yet beautiful atmosphere, drawing the listener into the cowboy’s desolate phone call and his lonely journey.
“I Can Still Make Cheyenne” resonated profoundly with audiences because its themes of sacrifice, unwavering dedication to a calling, and the pain of lost love are universal. It became one of George Strait’s most beloved and enduring hits, celebrated for its powerful storytelling and his authentic portrayal of the cowboy spirit. It remains a timeless classic, a poignant reminder that chasing a dream often comes with a heavy price, and that some men are simply destined to answer the call of the open road, knowing they “Can Still Make Cheyenne.”
Video
Lyrics
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
He 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 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 it one last look
Then he just walked away
He aimed his truck toward that Wyoming line
With a little luck he could still get there in time
And in that Cheyenne wind he could still hear her say
She said, don’t bother comin’ home
By 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
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
