Review by Amy Blizzard
Throughout his lengthy career George Strait has released a plethora of songs that channel various forms of emotion. From his latest CD Twang, he first tugged at the heartstrings with the poignant ballad ‘Living For the Night‘, then picked things up and showed a more lighthearted side with the successors ‘Twang’ and ‘I Gotta’ Get To You.’ Now, he is once again tapping into the sentimental vein with new single ‘The Breath You Take’.
Penned by celebrated songwriter Dean Dillon along with Jessie Jo Dillon and Casey Beathard, ‘The Breath You Take’ follows within the trail of Tim McGraw’s ‘Live Like You Were Dying’ and the more recent Mica Roberts’ release ‘Days You Live For‘. Encouraging the proper line-up of priorities, the song allows George Strait to comfortably slip into the role of storyteller.
Strait narrates the tale of a father who is setting a prime example for his son and teaching him that life is not about perfunctory breathing, but the special moments that leave you breathless. The verses first find the father deliberately missing a flight to make it to a baseball game and see his little boy get a hit and run the bases.
Time passes quickly, and soon, that young man is an adult and preparing for the arrivial of his own child with his father right along beside him, even though he had insisted it wasn’t necessary. The final breathtaking moment in the song is a tragic one that ends with the loss of the father who had an imperative message to share.
With such an inspirational story and message embedded into ‘The Breath You Take’, it easily could have come across as only cheesy or sappy. However, an organic musical arrangement that includes a haunting violin and a performance from George Strait that is permeated with his signature charming simplicity help to add another layer of depth. While not as powerfully moving as ‘Living For the Night’, the new single is still quite touching and pleasant.
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“The Breath You Take” Lyrics
He looks up from second base dad’s up in the stands
He saw the hit, the run, the slide there ain’t no bigger fan
In the parking lot after the game he said
“Dad I thought you had a plane to catch”
He smiled and said “Yeah son I did”
Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away
Fast forward fifteen years
And a thousand miles away
Boy’s built a life he’s got a wife
And a baby due today
He hears a voice saying “I made it son
He said “I told you dad you didn’t have to come”
He smiles and says ”Yeah I know you did”
Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away
Just like it took my breath when she was born
Just like it took my breath away when dad took his last that morn
Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
If ya don’t slow down the pace
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away
