Strait's success began when his first single "Unwound" was a hit in 1981. During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached #1 on the country charts. In the 2000s, Strait was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for the album Troubadour. Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990 and 2014. He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist.
By 2009, he broke Conway Twitty's previous record for the most #1 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart when his 44 #1 singles surpassed Twitty's 40. Counting all music charts, Strait has amassed a total of 60 #1 hits, breaking a record also previously set by Twitty, giving him more #1 songs than any other artist in any genre of music.
Strait is also known for his touring career when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. For example, the Strait Tours earned $99 million in three years. His concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in June 2014 drew 104,793 people, marking a new record for largest indoor concert in North America.
In more than 30 years of recording, all of which have been spent with MCA Records, George Strait has garnered 61 #1 songs on all country charts (including Mediabase 24/7, the former Radio & Records chart, and the now-defunct Gavin Report chart), and has more #1 hits than any other artist in a single genre. His 44 Billboard country #1 hits are a record, four more than Conway Twitty's total that includes several duets with Loretta Lynn. Additionally, Strait is also the first artist in the history of Billboard to have at least one single enter the top 10 of a Billboard chart for 30 consecutive years, starting in 1981 when his debut single "Unwound" peaked at number six on the Hot Country Singles chart. All of his top-10 singles have been on that chart. Strait has sold more than 68 million records in the United States alone, and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums.
George Strait Discography:
Strait Country (1981)
Strait from the Heart (1982)
Right or Wrong (1983)
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (1984)
Something Special (1985)
#7 (1986)
Ocean Front Property (1987)
If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin' (1988)
Beyond the Blue Neon (1989)
Livin' It Up (1990)
Chill of an Early Fall (1991)
Holding My Own (1992)
Pure Country (1992)
Easy Come, Easy Go (1993)
Lead On (1994)
Blue Clear Sky (1996)
Carrying Your Love with Me (1997)
One Step at a Time (1998)
Always Never the Same (1999)
George Strait (2000)
The Road Less Traveled (2001)
Honkytonkville (2003)
Somewhere Down in Texas (2005)
It Just Comes Natural (2006)
Troubadour (2008)
Twang (2009)
Here for a Good Time (2011)
Love Is Everything (2013)
Cold Beer Conversation (2015)
Honky Tonk Time Machine (2019)
Poison
George Strait Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I thought I was gonna blow beets
But I took another and pretty soon brother
Sour mash started tasting sweet
Made me feel brave and strong
Bulletproof, like I could do no wrong
But I found out before too long
What I should've known
You can learn to love anything
Even a bird in a cage will sing a song
Even it's wrong
Even if it kills you in the end
You can learn to love anything
Trade your heart and soul for a ball and chain
Anything can bring you pleasure, even pain
Pick your poison
Poison
Pick your poison
Ruby lips hid a razor tongue
And heart, blue as glacier ice
I was warned, but I was willing
To ignore everybody's advice
The more I gave, the more she took
She walked away without a second look
Just one more page from that great big book
On how
You can learn to love anything
Even a bird in a cage will sing a song
Even if it's wrong
Even if it kills you in the end
You can learn to love anything
Trade your heart and soul for a ball and chain
Anything can bring you pleasure, even pain
You can learn to love anything
A prison wall, a ball and chain
Anything can bring you pleasure, even pain
Pick your poison
Poison
(You can learn)
Pick your poison
Pick your poison
(You can learn)
Pick your poison
Poison
Poison
Pick your poison
Pick your poison
In “Poison,” George Strait paints a picture of someone who has fallen in love with something dangerous and addictive. The singer acknowledges that the first time he tasted alcohol, it was harsh and unpleasant, but soon the addiction kicked in, and the sour mash started to taste good. He felt invincible after having a few sips, like he could do anything. The singer realizes too late that his addiction has led him down a perilous path.
The second verse introduces another kind of poison in the form of a woman. The person is warned about her cold heart and razor tongue but falls for her anyway. She takes advantage of him, and when he has nothing more to give, she walks away. These verses convey the message that anything can be a poison, not just the traditional definition of poison as something that kills you. The song suggest that people can get addicted to a lot of things that are just as dangerous and harmful.
Overall, the song is warning people about addiction, cautioning them against getting trapped by anything that could turn into their poison. People should be careful with what they consume or whom they allow into their lives since anything can bring them pleasure and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
My first sip made me gag
The initial experience was bad
And I thought I was gonna blow beets
It was so unpleasant, it made me nauseous
But I took another and pretty soon brother
Despite the first sip, I tried it again
Sour mash started tasting sweet
Eventually, the drink became enjoyable
Made me feel brave and strong
The drink gave me a false sense of confidence
Bulletproof, like I could do no wrong
I felt invincible and impervious to consequences
But I found out before too long
It didn't take long for me to realize my mistake
What I should've known
I was aware of the risks, but I ignored them
You can learn to love anything
People can become accustomed to and enjoy almost anything
Even a bird in a cage will sing a song
Even in captivity, something can find joy
Even it's wrong
Sometimes, the thing that brings us pleasure is not good for us
Even if it kills you in the end
Despite the risks, people may continue to pursue something they love
Trade your heart and soul for a ball and chain
Some things can be so alluring, they become addictive and entrap us
Anything can bring you pleasure, even pain
People can find pleasure in things that may hurt them or others
Ruby lips hid a razor tongue
The person I trusted and loved was deceptive and hurtful
And heart, blue as glacier ice
Despite appearing beautiful and alluring, she was cold and unfeeling
I was warned, but I was willing
Others cautioned me about this relationship, but I ignored them
The more I gave, the more she took
Despite my efforts, I was used and taken advantage of
She walked away without a second look
In the end, she left me with nothing
Just one more page from that great big book
This experience is just one more lesson in a larger story of love and loss
A prison wall, a ball and chain
Anything that controls and confines us can be a source of pleasure, even if it harms us
Pick your poison
Choose your own path, even if it brings you pain
Poison
Something that is enjoyable but comes with risks or negative consequences
(You can learn)
Repeated in chorus to emphasize the message of the song
Pick your poison
Choose your own path, even if it brings you pain
Pick your poison
Choose your own path, even if it brings you pain
(You can learn)
Repeated in chorus to emphasize the message of the song
Poison
Something that is enjoyable but comes with risks or negative consequences
Poison
Something that is enjoyable but comes with risks or negative consequences
Pick your poison
Choose your own path, even if it brings you pain
Pick your poison
Choose your own path, even if it brings you pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUDDY CANNON, JOHN SCOTT SHERRILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shannon Beeler
on The Fireman
Tara we know how much you miss spending the 4th of July with David, so we thought this may make you feel a little better! Love ya!