About the song
“Arkansas Dave” appears on George Strait’s 2009 album, “Twang,” and is co-credited to Bubba Strait as the sole songwriter. This is significant as George Strait co-wrote a few other tracks on the “Twang” album with Bubba and Dean Dillon, marking a more active songwriting role for the “King of Country” in that period, often alongside his son. “Arkansas Dave” itself tells a story, as many classic country songs do, though the specifics of Dave’s narrative are open to interpretation, allowing listeners to connect with the character and situation in their own way.
Musically, the track fits comfortably within George Strait’s signature neo-traditionalist country sound. You can expect a well-crafted melody, underpinned by traditional country instrumentation such as steel guitar, fiddle, and a solid rhythm section. George Strait’s smooth and distinctive baritone delivers the narrative with his characteristic understated sincerity, allowing the story and the emotion to resonate without unnecessary embellishment. The collaboration with his son on the songwriting likely brought a fresh perspective to the themes explored in the song, adding another layer of personal connection to the music.
While Bubba Strait has largely remained out of the direct limelight as a performer, his influence on his father’s music, particularly in his songwriting contributions, is noteworthy. Their collaborative efforts on tracks like “Arkansas Dave,” as well as other songs on subsequent albums, demonstrate a familial bond extending into the creative realm. For longtime fans of George Strait, these collaborations offer a glimpse into his personal life and the continuation of a musical legacy through his family. “Arkansas Dave” is a testament to this unique partnership, a solid country track co-written by a father and son, adding another compelling chapter to George Strait’s remarkable career.
Video
Lyrics
He rode up on a winter day
Steam risin’ off a streak face bay
Said you probably know my name
If you don’t it’s Arkansas Dave
He talked of fifteen years ago
And how he got the bay he rode
He said he killed a man in Ohio
First man he killed, first horse he stole
It was a long road for Arkansas Dave
He shot and left him where he laid
He said he’d never forget that winter day
He rode off on a streak faced bay
I stood up and I shook his hand
Told no one that I knew this man
Started thinkin’ of a plan
Bout how I’d deal him his last hand
Didn’t take him long to come unwound
He jumped up and gunned two men down
Ran outside to leave the town
But ole bay was nowhere to be found
I head out with my forty-four
And when he walked back through the door
I shot till I could shoot no more
And Dave Rudabough fell to the floor
It was the end of the road for Arkansas Dave
I shot and left him where he laid
I’ll never forget that winter day
I rode off on a streak faced bay
No I’ll never forget that winter day
When I rode home on Daddy’s streak face bay
