George Strait – Where Have I Been All My Life

Introduction:

“Where Have I Been All My Life” is a contemplative ballad released in 1987 by the King of Country Music, George Strait. The song found its home on Strait’s immensely successful studio album “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”, which topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and achieved quadruple-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) signifying over four million copies sold. “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” was produced by Billy Sherrill and Gary Nicholson, with Sherrill also contributing as a co-writer alongside Nicholson for the song “Where Have I Been All My Life”.

While “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” was a commercial juggernaut, “Where Have I Been All My Life” resonated with critics and audiences alike for its heartfelt lyrics and relatable themes. The song is a mid-tempo country ballad that explores the feeling of contentment and newfound love. Strait’s iconic vocals deliver a powerful performance, conveying the protagonist’s reflection on past relationships and the realization that he has finally found something genuine and fulfilling. The lyrics delve into the narrator’s wonder about where this love has been all his life, lamenting over past experiences that seem insignificant compared to the happiness he has discovered.

“Where Have I Been All My Life” was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The song’s critical acclaim resulted in a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for George Strait in 1988. “Where Have I Been All My Life” cemented Strait’s status as a country music legend and continues to be a beloved song among fans for its poignant exploration of love, gratitude, and the wistful recognition of finding something special that had been missing all along.

Video:

Lyrics:

Been down the road to work and back
Been in what I thought was love a few times
But every once in a while I stop and ask
Where have I been all my life

These days broccoli don’t taste so bad
And neither does swallowing my pride
And I’m agreeing more and more with my old man
Where have I been all my life

Some years are clear and some a little blurry
Man how they fly by
Mom and dad sure got old in a hurry
Where have I been all my life

Been learning that forgiveness is as much for myself
As it is for the other guy
And I read the good book these days and believe it
Where have I been all my life

I heard “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
It brought a tear to my eyes
After all these years I finally get that song
Where have I been all my life