About the Song
In a career filled with chart-toppers and timeless country ballads, George Strait has always excelled at telling the truth in the simplest, most dignified way. On “If You Can Do Anything Else,” released in 2000 from his self-titled album George Strait, the King of Country delivers a subtle, bittersweet message — one that captures the complex emotions of letting go with love still in your heart.
Written by Billy Livsey and Don Schlitz, this track is a masterclass in understated storytelling. The narrator doesn’t beg, plead, or throw blame. Instead, he stands quietly at the crossroads of a relationship, offering his partner the freedom to leave — not with resentment, but with grace and quiet sorrow. The hook, “If you can do anything else, baby, be good to yourself,” says it all. It’s about loving someone enough to step aside, even when it breaks your heart to do so.
Musically, the song is wrapped in classic Strait polish: smooth steel guitar, gentle piano flourishes, and a melody that flows like a slow dance on a lonely night. His vocal delivery is gentle but grounded — never over-dramatic, just real. It’s that sense of emotional restraint that gives the song its power. He doesn’t have to shout to make you feel the ache; he simply sings it like he’s lived it.
“If You Can Do Anything Else” peaked modestly on the charts, but for many fans, it remains a hidden gem — a quiet anthem for those who’ve faced love’s turning point and chosen to walk away with dignity. It’s a reminder that in country music, and in life, the most powerful statements are sometimes the softest ones.
With this song, George Strait once again proves that he doesn’t need grand gestures or soaring theatrics to break your heart. He just needs a few honest words, a steel-stringed melody, and that unmistakable voice — the kind that always knows when to hold on, and when to let go.