Angry All The Time

Album: Wrapped (1998)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a heartbreaking ballad about a wife growing apart from her husband as they age and raise their children. They are good to each other, but aren't the same people anymore after they grow older and raise their children. Like the song says, "The reasons I can't stay don't have a thing to do with being in love."
  • Tim McGraw and Faith Hill recorded this song in 2001, and scored a #1 Country hit with their version. The next year, The Dixie Chicks had a hit with Robison's song "Travelin' Soldier." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Max - Philipsburg, PA, for above 2
  • Robison recorded this song as a duet with his wife, Kelly Willis, who is also an acclaimed singer/songwriter. This version is what got the attention of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who decided to cover the song. Robison and Willis, who married in 1997, released their first album together in 2013: Cheater's Game. (Here's our full Bruce Robison interview.)

Comments: 3

  • Irrelevant from Nowhere NearAs a man who was married to a woman who was always angry for many years, I personally see the meaning of the song as it is plainly written, it is exactly my story. But I do believe it. Can be interpreted as a man speaking to himself at certain points as well. That's the great thing about art, it's open for interpretation and often the lyrics of songs are written in such a way as to be specifically open to the listeners interpretation.

    My ex wife was abused as a child and it left her in an emotional prison that she was able to hide from the public and that gave her a very different personality when we met and fell in love, she had that light in her eyes. After a few years together her walls broke down and she became an angry vengeful person who began to abuse me and our relationship, I tried to be whatever I thought she needed to help her through. After all she had been carrying this hurt and anger since childhood. I really did love her and didn't want to give up on us, but then she started cheating on me, another symptom of her abuse was promiscuous behavior. I put up with it for a while (looking back I was a fool) but eventually I couldn't stay anymore.

    This song hits deep, and some people are too broken to stay with them.
  • Anon from UsaThis isn't how anyone going through this would ever see things. It's her fault. She's angry. Stupid definition.
  • Bigtarin from Phx Az yes i been married for 31 years it is in my eyes have many different meaning"The reasons I can't stay don't have a thing to do with being in love." a woman scorn but yet in love they both could have an addiction wich drew them apart which then could lead to them cheating on each other i understand that loving a man shouldnt have to be so ruff saying that he tryes tp please her but the addition is to strong for both of them wich wont allow them to feel or express there love{ you aint the only one} saying that he feels the same way who feels like this world has left you far behind the distance they created but they cant figure out why she angry all the time power of addiction is a powerful thing god bless you
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