Either Way

Album: From A Room: Volume 1 (2017)
Charted: 89
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Chris Stapleton penned this sparse ballad about a love gone cold along with Tim James and Kendell Marvel. Speaking in 2017, Stapleton recalled:

    "I wrote that song over 10 years, so I couldn't recall the day or all those things, but I'm sure I t went something like I walked into the room with Tim James and Kendall Marvel, one of them had this idea. It seemed really tragic and sad, so we tried to do that to the best of our ability, but also to put truth in it and honesty in it, and when you can do that, then truth and honesty are going to find somebody inside a song."
  • The song was originally recorded by Lee Ann Womack for her 2008 Call Me Crazy record. Stapleton explained why he redid the tune nine years later for his From a Room: Volume 1 album:

    "My wife always loved that song, which should worry me, but she just loves really slow sad songs and she always wanted me to play that song So, I felt led to do it and if I'm gonna sing something, I'm gonna sing it with every ounce of belief and try to put every bit of believability in a lyric that I can."
  • This won for Best Country Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards in 2018. From A Room: Volume 1 took Best Country Album, and Stapleton also earned Best Country Song for "Broken Halos."

Comments: 1

  • Just MeWhen I first heard this song,I was blown away that Country music and Chrs in particular could be so real,so raw. Then to learn that it was about nothing in his life, but rather believable bs or a " good idea" that someone actually living those lyric was disappointing to say the least. I hope any song writer would be more authentic than just penning tragic lines that someone else is living. But maybe that's just me,Words do Matter,and especially when borne out in their originators life
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.