Introduction
“Baby Blue,” recorded by George Strait and penned by Texas songwriter Aaron Barker, first breathed air in April 1988 as the second single from Strait’s platinum-certified eighth studio album, If You Ain’t Lovin’ You Ain’t Livin’ . The song was produced by the legendary duo Jimmy Bowen and George Strait himself, stemming from sessions recorded in September 1987 in Nashville’s Sound Stage Studios .
At its core, “Baby Blue” is a bittersweet ballad, mourning the end of a tender romance. Featuring the memorable chorus—“And baby blue was the color of her eyes / Baby blue like the Colorado skies”—Strait’s smooth and emotive delivery bridges classic country storytelling with a refined, neotraditional production . The song resonated deeply with listeners, quickly climbing to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the U.S. and reaching No. 3 on Canada’s RPM Country Tracks . It became one of three chart-topping hits from the album, alongside “If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)” and “Famous Last Words of a Fool” .
Critically, “Baby Blue” was praised for its polished blend of melancholy lyrics and traditional country warmth. Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe characterized it as “another one of Strait’s smoothest pop performances, with just enough country touches in the production to keep his traditionalist credentials intact,” declaring it “a beautiful piece of work” . The song’s appeal lies in its universal themes of love, loss, and lingering memory—a chorus that lingers long after the music ends.
Though some fans have speculated that the heartfelt lyrics reflect Strait’s personal grief—his daughter Jenifer tragically died in 1986—Strait clarified he did not write “Baby Blue” himself and that Barker’s demo was so compelling that he “was hard‑pressed to improve on it” . Nevertheless, its mournful resonance fits seamlessly within Strait’s repertoire of earnest, emotionally rich storytelling.
Over three decades later, “Baby Blue” remains a timeless slice of country music—a testament to George Strait’s ability to convey deep feeling through a simple, elegant melody and a story that tugs at the heart.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
She looked so much like a lady
But she was so much like a child
A devil when she held me close
An angel when she smiled
She always held it deep inside
But somehow I always knew
She’d go away when the grass turned green
And the sky turned baby blue
[Chorus]
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
Baby blue like the Colorado skies
Like a breath of spring, she came and left
And I still don’t know why
So here’s to you and whoever holds my baby blue tonight
[Verse 2]
She brought colors to my life
That my eyes had never touched
And when she taught me how to care
I never cared so much
I try not to think of her
But I fall asleep and do
And drift off where the grass is green
And the sky is baby blue
[Chorus]
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
Baby blue like the Colorado skies
Like a breath of spring, she came and left
And I still don’t know why
So here’s to you and whoever holds my baby blue tonight
[Chorus]
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
Baby blue like the Colorado skies
Like a breath of spring, she came and left
And I still don’t know why
So here’s to you and whoever holds my baby blue tonight
[Outro]
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
Baby blue like the Colorado skies
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
Baby blue like the Colorado skies
Baby blue was the color of her eyes
Baby blue like the Colorado skies
Baby blue