Introduction
“The Cowboy Rides Away” was originally written by Sonny Throckmorton and Casey Kelly, and first recorded by George Strait in mid‑1984; it was released as the second single from his album Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind on January 14, 1985, reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and No. 3 in Canada . The song became a signature closer for Strait’s concerts and inspired the name of his farewell “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” (2013–2014). Its final performance on June 7, 2014 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas drew a record‑setting crowd of over 104,000 fans.
Lyrically, the song presents a poignant story of a cowboy ending a long, troubled relationship. With vivid imagery—“my heart is sinking like a setting sun”—it wraps heartbreak in stoic cowboy mythology, blending emotional vulnerability with rugged independence . Critics have praised it for weaving traditional country themes with fresh emotional resonance; Country Universe awarded it an A grade for reinventing the cowboy archetype with emotional depth .
In January 2020, Ronnie Dunn recorded the song for his album Re‑Dunn, a 24‑song passion project of country and rock covers that influenced him—calling “The Cowboy Rides Away” himself “a no‑brainer” pick because “the dance floors filled up with a sea of cowboy hats” when the song came on . Dunn’s version pays tribute to Strait while embracing the song’s emotional core and inviting listeners to re‑experience the bittersweet farewell through his rich, veteran voice.
Dunn’s rendition appears alongside other iconic covers on Re‑Dunn, positioned as a heartfelt homage to one of country music’s defining songs, one that helped mark both the end of an era and the enduring spirit of the cowboy’s farewell ride.
Video
Lyrics
I knew the stakes were high right from the start
When she dealt the cards I dealt my heart
Now I just found a game that I can’t play
And this is where the cowboy rides away
And my heart is sinking like the setting sun
Setting on the things I wish I’d done
It’s time to say goodbye to yesterday
This is where the cowboy rides away
We’ve been in and out of love and in between
And now we play the final showdown scene
And as the credits roll a sad song starts to play
This is where the cowboy rides away
And my heart is sinking like a setting sun
Setting on the things I wish I’d done
It’s time to say goodbye to yesterday
This is where the cowboy rides away
Oh the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say
This is where the cowboy rides away