20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of George Strait

Strait personally chose the 12 selections on The Best of George Strait: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection. The CD spans a full decade, 1983-1993 and includes many multi platinum albums. Each track on the disc was a #1 country hit and has been digitally remastered for this compilation.  This album peaked at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. It also reached number 76 on the all-genre Billboard 200.


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I told her I wouldn't miss her at all as she walked to the door
I couldn't care less if she didn't care anymore
And with tears in my eyes, I lied, I was glad we were through
As she drove away cryin' at the famous last words of a fool

Famous last words of a fool
Famous last words of a fool
"You won't break my heart and I don't love you"
The famous last words of a fool

The first night without her would be easy, I kept telling myself
All the while dying at the thought of her lying somewhere else
There'll be nothing to it, I'll easily find someone new
As my breaking heart echoed the famous last words of a fool

Famous last words of a fool
Famous last words of a fool
"You won't break my heart and I don't love you"
The famous last words of a fool
"You won't break my heart and I don't love you"
Famous last words of a fool


- Dean Dillon, Rex Huston

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's go away when the grass turned green and the sky turned baby blue.

And 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.

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.

And 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.

And 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.

And 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.


- Aaron Barker

If you got a Cadillac boy
And a 40 room shack boy
A bucket full of money
And a tree full of honey
But if you're gettin' no huggin'
No smoochin' or a muggin'

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

If you're ridin' on a gravy train
Instead of walkin' down lovers lane
You can't make, hey boy
'Cause you're goin' the wrong way boy
You gotta get a a little honey
It's better than money

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

If they call you a big man
'Cause you got a lot of bottom land
If you're kin to the President
And ya help from the Government
But if you're gettin' no attention
You're better off on a pension

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'

If you got a string of long cars
And your smokin' them 4-bit cigars
You ain't so well to do
Unless you get a little coochy-coo
It takes a little bit a smackin'
Or your life's lackin'

If you ain't lovin'
Than you ain't livin'


- Tommy Collins

What a rotten day this turned out to be.
I still can't believe she'd leave so easily.
She just got all her things, threw 'em into a pile,
Then she loaded her car and said after a while,
She'd done this before, but this time she didn't cry.

That's why I'm sittin' on the front steps,
Staring down the road, wond'rin' if she'll come back -
This time I don't know.
After she packed, when she looked back
There were no tears in her eyes,
And that's got me worried thinking
Maybe my baby's gotten good at goodbye.

All the times before she'd break down and cry.
She'd make her threats, but her heart wasn't set on goodbye.
She just wanted me to hear what she had to say.
Now I'm lost for words, since she went away.
She may not return for this time she didn't cry.

That's why I'm sittin' on the front steps,
Staring down the road, wond'rin' if she'll come back -
This time I don't know.
After she packed, when she looked back
There were no tears in her eyes,
And that's got me worried thinking
Maybe my baby's gotten good at goodbye.

That's why I'm sittin' on the front steps,
Staring down the road, wond'rin' if she'll come back -
This time I don't know.
After she packed, when she looked back
There were no tears in her eyes,
And that's got me worried thinking
Maybe my baby's gotten good at goodbye.


- Tony Martin, Troy Martin

(What's going on in your world? I hope that you're doing fine.
I just called to say there's not a day that you don't cross my mind.
I just wanted to see if you feel like me - sorry that we said goodbye.
So what's going on in your world? It sure is lonesome in mine.

Just tell me that you're happy and I'll hang up the phone.
Just tell me you don't need me anymore and I'll leave you alone.
I just wondered if you had somebody new after all of this time.
So what's going on in your world? It sure is lonesome in mine.

Just tell me that you're happy and I'll hang up the phone.
Just tell me you don't need me anymore and I'll leave you alone.
I just wondered if you had somebody new after all of this time.
So what's going on in your world? It sure is lonesome in mine.

What's going on in your world? It sure is lonesome in mine.


- David Chamberlain, Royce Porter, Red Steagall

You've got to have an ace in the hole.
A little secret that nobody knows.
Life is a gamble, a game we all play,
But you need to save something for a rainy day.
You've got to learn to play your cards right if you expect to win in life.
Don't put it all on the line for just one roll.
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

If you're headed down a one way street.
And you're not sure it's the way you wanna go.
In money or love, or all the above,
Have a little more than what you show.
When life deals out a surprise
Have a few surprises of your own.
No matter what you do, no matter where you go
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

You've got to have an ace in the hole.
A little secret that nobody knows.
Life is a gamble, a game we all play,
But you need to save something for a rainy day.
You've got to learn to play your cards right if you expect to win in life.
Don't put it all on the line for just one roll.
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

Don't put it all on the line for just one roll
You've got to have an ace in the hole.
No matter what you do, no matter where you go
You've got to have an ace in the hole.


- Dennis Adkins

I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye.
Fightin' was against the rules and it didn't matter why.
When dad got home I told that story just like I'd rehearsed.
And then stood there on those tremblin' knees and waited for the worst.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

When I became a father in the spring of '81
There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my father's son.
And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end,
I took my daddy's secret and I passed it on to him.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

Last night I dreamed I died and stood outside those pearly gates.
When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake.
If they know half the things I've done, they'll never let me in.
And then somewhere from the other side I heard these words again.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."


- Aaron Barker

So upset
Nervous wreck
I can't believe you said goodbye

Sit and smoke
Cry and joke
About these tears in my eyes

How could you do what you've gone and done to me
I wouldn't treat a dog the way you treated me
But that's what I get
I've come to expect it from you

A million times
A million lines
And I've bought 'em, every one

You don't care
You rip and tear
Every dream I've counted on

I guess that I should thank my unlucky stars
That I'm alive and you're the way you are
But that's what I get
I've come to expect it from you

How could you do what you've gone and done to me
I wouldn't treat a dog the way you treated me
But that's what I get
I've come to expect it from you

I could raise hell
But what the hell
It wouldn't do a bit a good

Pack and leave
My heart agrees
It seems to think that I should

There won't be no more next time doing me wrong
You'll come back this time to find out that I'm gone
But that's what you get
You should expect that from me

That's what I get
I've come to expect it from you


- Buddy Cannon, Dean Dillon

Says she's had enough of me, I've had enough of her too.
I might as well go on and set her free, she's already turned me loose.
No fault, no blame, nobody done no wrong-
That's just the way it sometimes goes.
Sometimes two people just don't get along, it's time to hit the road.

Goodbye, farewell, so long, vaya condios.
Good luck, wish you well, take it slow.
Easy come girl, easy go.

We tried to work it out a hundred times, ninety- nine it didn't work.
I think it's best we put it all behind before we wind up getting hurt.
No hard feelings darling, no regrets,
No tears and no broken hearts.
Call it quits, calling off all bets, it just wasn't in the cards.

Easy come girl, easy go.
Vaya condios, good luck,
Easy come, easy go.


- Aaron Barker, Dean Dillon

Our love is unconditional
We knew it from the start
I can see it in your eyes
You can feel it from my heart

From here on after
Let's stay the way we are right now
And share all the love and laughter
That a lifetime will allow.

I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

You will always be the miracle
That makes my life complete
And as long as there's a breath in me
I'll make yours just as sweet

As we look into the future
It's as far as we can see
So let's make each tomorrow
Be the best that it can be

I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all I've got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine

And if along the way we find a day
It starts to storm
You've got the promise of my love
To keep you warm

In all the world
You'll never find
A love as true as mine
A love as true as mine


- Steve Dorff, Eric Kaz

All my ex's live in Texas
And Texas is the place I'd dearly love to be
But all my ex's live in Texas
And that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee

Rosanna's down in Texarkana
Wanted me to push her broom
Sweet Eileen's in Abilene
She forgot I hung the moon

And Allison's in Galveston
Somehow lost her sanity
And Dimple's who now lives in Temple's
Got the law looking for me

All my ex's live in Texas
And Texas is the place I'd dearly love to be
But all my ex's live in Texas
And that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee

I remember that old Frio river
Where I learned to swim
And it brings to mind another time
Where I wore my welcome thin

By transcendental meditation
I go there each night
But I always come back to myself
Long before daylight

All my ex's live in Texas
And Texas is the place I'd dearly love to be
But all my ex's live in Texas
And therefore I reside in Tennessee

Some folks think I'm hidin'
It's been rumored that I died
But I'm alive and well in Tennessee


- Sanger D. Shafer, Linda J. Shafer

Oh how you sparkle, and oh how you shine.
That flush on your cheeks is more than the wine.
And he must do something that I didn't do.
Whatever he's doing, it looks good on you.

You look so good in love.
You want him, that's easy to see.
You look so good in love.
And I wish you still wanted me.

He must have stolen some stars from the sky,
And gave them to you to wear in your eyes.
I had my chances, but I set you free.
And now I wonder why I couldn't see.

You look so good in love.
You want him, that's easy to see.
You look so good in love.
And I wish you still wanted me.

Darling I've wasted a lot of years not seeing the real you,
But tonight your beauty is shining through.
And I never took the time to let you know,
So before he takes you away please let me say.

You look so good in love.
You want him, that's easy to see.
You look so good in love.
And I wish you still wanted me.

You look so good in love.

 

- Glen Ballard, Rory Michael Bourke, Kerry Chater