An unfinished promise. A torn verse. And a wound George never wanted the world to hear…
A love song complete – or not quite ?
“I Cross My Heart” is widely regarded as one of George Strait’s most iconic love songs — the centerpiece of the 1992 film Pure Country, and a pillar of his career. But few fans know that the song once had an additional verse — short, poignant, and deeply personal.
That verse, however, was never recorded.
Not due to technical issues — but because it cut too deep.
A verse unsung, for a love unforgotten
A close friend from the studio sessions once revealed that the cut verse began with the line:
“If I had loved you first, would we be standing here?”
No one knows for sure who George wrote it for. But among those close to him, it’s believed the words were for a woman he loved deeply before meeting Norma — his now wife. A lost love that never quite left his heart.
Removing that verse wasn’t just editing — it was hiding a heartache.
Sometimes, the words left unsung are the ones that hurt the most
For decades, George Strait has performed “I Cross My Heart” as a symbol of unwavering devotion to Norma. But perhaps, what he left out — that unwritten verse — is what gave the song its haunting depth:
Not just a vow of love kept, but a love once lost… and left unnamed.
🎵 Suggested listening:
“I Cross My Heart” – George Strait
Listen again — not just for the melody, but for the silence between verses…
and imagine what might have been.
Lyrics: