Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Throwback To George Strait’s Breakout Hit, “Unwound”

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.
In 1981, George Strait made a major label debut with his song “Unwound.” Released as the lead single from his debut album Strait Country, the song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart – it was Strait’s first top-ten hit. Strait regularly included “Unwound” in his set on his Cowboy Rides Away Tour. The song’s influence has also been acknowledged through the years by different artists. Did you know this is the song that inspired a young Garth Brooks to pursue his own dream of country stardom? Other than Brooks, Toby Keith also performed it during the 2010 ACM tribute to Strait and his fellow country traditionalists.

It Was Pure Luck That Landed Strait To What Would Be His Breakout Song

Written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus, “Unwound” tells the tale of a man having issues with his woman. He went out drinking one night because: “That woman that I had wrapped around my finger just come unwound. She kicked me out of the house, and tonight I’m whisky bound. I’m gonna be the drunkest fool in town. ‘Cause that woman that I had wrapped around my finger just come unwound,” Strait sings. Dillon recalled to Texas Monthly that after he moved to Nashville in 1973, Dycus was the first songwriter he met. While mulling over the song idea at Nashville’s Third Coast bar, Dycus walked through the door, and the two made such a history. “We wrote this song. I can’t even remember it. It was so bad,” Dillon recalled. “I’m really depressed because the song’s horrible” until Dycus came.  “I said, ‘Man, I’ve got a great song idea. Let’s write it,'” he continued. “He said, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘She’s got me wrapped around her finger, but tonight I’m gonna unwind.’ And he looked at me and thought for a minute, and he said, ‘What about this: ‘That woman that I had wrapped around my finger just came unwound?” “And I said, ‘Well, hell, I like that better,'” Dillon added. “So we sat down at a table on that patio and wrote a song called “Unwound.” In about forty-five minutes. And got good and drunk doing it.” Dillon and Dycus originally wrote the song for country singer Johnny Paycheck. However, Paycheck was in jail at the time.  Strait’s record producer, Blake Mevis, had to drive over to Dillon’s house in 1980, where he found Dillon and Dycus writing songs on the front porch. He asked them if they had any new songs for a ‘new kid from Texas.’ Since Paycheck could no longer use “Unwound,” they gave it to Mevis for Strait to sing.  Pitching a song to an unknown artist – which Strait was at the time – was not something writers usually did back then. “Nobody that was a songwriter in their right mind would give some twenty-something-year-old kid from Texas, completely unknown, their top-drawer stuff,” Dillon explained. But he liked Strait’s voice, so he continued to pitch the future country legend some of his other songs. “So, I pitched him everything I had and ended up with six songs on his first album. I think a lot of that had to do with nobody else would give him anything. He never forgot that,” Dillon said. Since then, Strait has cut over fifty of Dillon’s songs, and the two frequently co-write together. You can listen to George Strait’s “Unwound” in the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-wte5jM65M

Latest Stories

Martina McBride did not call Beyoncé a 'clown in a cowboy hat'; the viral claim is false and has no evidence to support it.

Martina McBride Never Called Beyoncé a “Clown in a Cowboy Hat”

Social media has a way of turning fiction into fact overnight, and the latest victim of misinformation is country legend Martina McBride. A viral claim has been circulating that McBride ...

Chris Stapleton did not object to Beyoncé’s country Grammy win, dismissing rumors of controversy over her Cowboy Carter victory.

No, Chris Stapleton Did Not Object to Beyoncé’s Grammy Win

Rumor has spread that Chris Stapleton filed an “official objection” after Beyoncé won Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys for Cowboy Carter. A supposed quote attributed to him suggests ...

Blake Shelton to host the Grand Ole Opry's 100th celebration, honoring a century of country music with star-studded performances.

Blake Shelton Set to Host Grand Ole Opry’s 100th Celebration

Country music’s most legendary stage is set for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Blake Shelton is taking the reins. The Grand Ole Opry will mark its 100th anniversary with a star-studded NBC ...

Dolly Parton fights to save her Imagination Library in Indiana after budget cuts threaten its vital funding for children's literacy.

Dolly Parton Fights to Save Imagination Library in Indiana

Dolly Parton has always stood up for what she believes in—lifting people’s spirits with her music, funding major charitable efforts, and ensuring children have access to books, no matter their ...

Billy Currington maintains a private personal life, sparking speculation about his sexuality, though no public statement or evidence confirms the rumors.

Is Billy Currington Gay? What We Know About the Country Star

Billy Currington has spent decades serenading country music fans with hits like “People Are Cr𝐚zy” and “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.” His smooth vocals, laid-back charm, and undeniable talent have ...

Post Malone and Alan Jackson pose together, bridging generations of country music with their iconic styles and shared respect for the genre.

Post Malone’s Road to Country Music Started Long Ago

Post Malone didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to go country—he’s been headed down this dirt road for a long time. From his Texas roots to his early ...

Drake sparks speculation about a country music crossover, potentially releasing a country album and exploring a new genre.

Is Drake the Next Artist to Take Over Country Music?

Country music has been through a wave of change lately, and not everyone is convinced it’s for the better. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter shook the industry, bringing country into the mainstream ...

Riley Green's 'Worst Way' music video sparks a frenzy with steamy scenes and a touch of humor, making waves in the country music world.

Riley Green Turns Up the Heat in Worst Way Music Video

Riley Green isn’t holding back in his latest music video for “Worst Way,” and fans are feeling some kind of way about it. Known for his rugged country charm and ...

Meet Lainey Wilson's fiancé, Devlin 'Duck' Hodges—former NFL quarterback and avid duck hunter—who captured the country star's heart.

Who Is Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges? Meet Lainey Wilson’s Fiancé

Lainey Wilson is one of the biggest stars in country music right now. Still, behind the scenes, she has a steady and supportive partner in her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges. ...

Lainey Wilson announces her engagement to Devlin 'Duck' Hodges, sharing romantic proposal photos that celebrate their new chapter together.

Lainey Wilson Is Engaged to Former NFL Star Duck Hodges

Lainey Wilson has a lot to celebrate—her career is on fire, she’s gearing up for a massive world tour, and now, she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend, former NFL quarterback ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.