“Cane Cooper” Almost Replaced George Strait?! A long-distance call and a virtual cup of coffee with old friend Roy Cooper uncovered a goldmine of behind-the-scenes stories from the 60th Annual Western Heritage Awards in Oklahoma City. There, Roy sat alongside country music legend George Strait – honored with the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award – and legendary actor Robert Duvall, recipient of the 2020 award. Roy shared: 🗣️ “George said when he first arrived in Nashville in 1981, his producer at MCA told him to take off his hat and change his name to… Cane Cooper. George laughed, ‘Well, that would’ve made me one of the Cooper boys. But me and Roy are brothers anyway.’” When Roy asked Robert Duvall what his favorite movie was, he expected The Godfather. But Duvall answered without hesitation: 🎬 “Without a doubt — Lonesome Dove.” And on his way to the airport this morning, the 90-year-old Duvall called back to say: 👉 “Roy, this is Bobby Duvall. Tell that Brazile boy I said hi, and I want to see your son Tuf rope someday.” George Strait? Still witty and down-to-earth as ever: 🎶 “My favorite song? The one that made me the most money.” 😄 And Roy? Someone in the crowd brought up a legendary stat: 🏆 In 1978, he won Cheyenne, Calgary, and Pendleton — all in the same season. A true “Triple Crown” cowboy. As for George Strait — the hat stayed on that night. And the name? Still George Strait, just as destiny intended.

Introduction

“Cowboys Like Us” is a powerful and evocative country song recorded by George Strait, released on August 11, 2003, as the second single from his 22nd studio album, Honkytonkville . Written by acclaimed songwriters Bob DiPiero and Anthony Smith, the track captures the essence of a liberated, adventurous spirit through its vivid cowboy imagery and the metaphor of “riding out on steel horses with wheels” — a nod to motorcycles and the timeless allure of the open road .

Produced by George Strait in collaboration with long-time partner Tony Brown, Honkytonkville reflects a commitment to traditional honky-tonk sounds, with “Cowboys Like Us” exemplifying Strait’s embrace of neotraditional country — a style he helped pioneer in the 1980s . The song’s release followed “Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa” and preceded “Desperately,” marking a period where Strait sustained his chart dominance, even though Honkytonkville notably had no number-one singles .

Commercially, “Cowboys Like Us” resonated deeply with country audiences, climbing from its debut at No. 57 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart (week of August 9, 2003) to a peak at No. 2 on December 13, 2003 — held from the top spot by Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar” . The single also earned its place in the year-end rankings, landing at No. 53 on Billboard’s 2003 country list .

Beyond airplay, the song has sustained cultural significance, with memorable live renditions such as George Strait’s 2014 farewell concert at AT&T Stadium — where he was joined by Eric Church — reminding fans of its enduring outlaw-country resonance . As a staple in Strait’s storied catalog, “Cowboys Like Us” stands out not just for its musicality but for its narrative of freedom, camaraderie, and living life on one’s own terms — hallmarks of the cowboy ethos.

In the broader arc of Strait’s career — spanning over four decades, more than 60 No. 1 singles, 30+ platinum records, and a legacy as the “King of Country” celebrated with the 2024 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award — “Cowboys Like Us” remains a standout chapter .

Video

Lyrics

I take off time to time
With those crazy friends of mine
Head out on steel horses
With wheels and we ride
We burn up that road to old Mexico
Blend in with the desert
Just we amigos
And we roll
And cowboys like us sure do have fun
Racing the wind, chasing the sun
Take the long way around back to square one
Today we’re just outlaws out on the run
There’ll be no regrets, no worries and such
For cowboys like us
We talk about living, babies and women
All that we’ve lost and all we’ve been giving
We sing about true love, lie about things we ain’t done
Drink one more cold one, come morning get up
And we roll
Cowboys like us sure do have fun
Racing the wind, chasing the sun
Take the long way around back to square one
Today we’re just outlaws out on the run
There’ll be no regrets, no worries and such
For cowboys like us
Cowboys like us sure do have fun
Racing the wind, chasing the sun
Take the long way around back to square one
Today we’re just outlaws out on the run
There’ll be no regrets, no worries and such
For cowboys like us
Cowboys like usBest gifts for your loved ones