"Amarillo Sky" is the title of a country music

Country music

Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...

 song written by Big Kenny and John Rich

John Rich (musician)

John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist...

 (of Big & Rich

Big & Rich

Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...

), along with Rodney Clawson and Bart Pursley. It was originally recorded by the band McBride & the Ride

McBride & the Ride

McBride & the Ride was an American country music band initially composed of Terry McBride , Ray Herndon and Billy Thomas . The group was founded in 1989 through the assistance of record producer Tony Brown...

 and released as a single in 2002 from their album Amarillo Sky

Amarillo Sky (album)

Amarillo Sky is the fifth and final studio album released by American country music trio McBride & the Ride. It was their first and only album after the reunion of the band's three original members...

. Country music star Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean

Jason Aldine Williams is an American country music singer, known professionally as Jason Aldean. Since 2005, Aldean has recorded for Broken Bow Records, an independent record label for which he has released four albums and twelve singles...

 later recorded the song for his 2005 self-titled

Jason Aldean (album)

-Album:-Singles:-Certifications:-External links:*[ Jason Aldean] at Allmusic...

 debut album, and his version was released as a single in mid-2006.
The single earned Jason Aldean 2 nominations at the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards for Video of the Year and Song of the Year, as well as video with the best direction at the CMT Music Awards.

Content

"Amarillo" is the spanish word for yellow. The song tells the story of a farmer who works on his family's farm. However, with a sun-drenched (or Amarillo) sky, the farm is going through a severe drought. The song mentions the various hardships that the farm has faced, such as a damaging hailstorm and an increase in the price of diesel fuel. In the chorus, the farmer prays to God that the farm will remain viable ("I never complain, I never ask why / Please don't let my dreams run dry / Underneath, underneath this amarillo sky").

Music video (Jason Aldean)

The music video was directed by Wes Edwards. It features Jason Aldean and his band playing the song under an old, torn-up barn. It shows young farmers from central Illinois who help take care of their farm. At the beginning of the video (which was cut from the video at times), the young farmers tell their stories of how they grew up on their farms, and how much their farms meant to them. The video premiered on CMT's Top 20 Countdown on the week of 17 August 2006.

Chart performance (Jason Aldean)

"Amarillo Sky" debuted at #52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of July 15, 2006. > >

Chart (2006-2007)	Peak position