Fire Away

Album: Traveller (2015)
Charted: 106
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This slow burner finds Chris Stapleton bracing himself for a verbal attack from his sharp-tongued lover. He penned the tune with songwriter Danny Green. Stapleton said: "It's a song about the frustration of commitment to me. Maybe that's why my wife always wanted me to record this song."
  • The song features harmony vocals from Chris Stapleton's wife, singer-songwriter Morgane Hayes-Stapleton. She scored a big hit in 2006 with Carrie Underwood's "Don't Forget to Remember Me."
  • The song's music video takes the viewer through a young married couple's first happy moments that turn tragic, The clip stars Ben Foster (Lone Survivor, X-Men) as a police officer and Margarita Levieva (The Black List, Revenge) as his wife who is struggling with mental illness.

    The visual was directed by Tim Mattia (Sam Hunt's "Take Your Time") and conceived by Chris Stapleton to bring awareness to mental health issues, specifically through the Campaign to Change Direction. The organization was introduced to the singer through Foster. Stapleton also has a cameo role in the video as the bartender who serves Foster.

    "[The idea for the video] was just a notion, and then it became real and useful and something that can hopefully make the world a better place," said Stapleton. "The song is kinda about loving somebody unconditionally through not so easy times. The concept of the video kind of came to me as that would be the hardest possible space in which to love somebody."

    "I've been a huge fan of Ben's [Foster] for a long time and so we tried to track him down and he was kind enough to take the phone call. And then it kind of grew from there," he added. "It was just a notion, and then it became real and useful and something that can hopefully make the world a better place."
  • This won Music Video of the Year at the 2016 CMA Awards.

Comments: 5

  • Jessica V from Fort Worth TxMy husband heard this song first and played it for me to listen to it said this is the song for me to you i love u always and forever ... This song had me in tears and at that moment i knew in my heart how deeply he loved me and i would always have him by my side through my good days and bad days . we are 11 years now and everyday love each other more im truly blessed to have him . i love this song and still i cry everytime i hear it thank you for this song.
  • Hollie from MdI suffer from mental illness since childhood.
    It's a shame that doctors look at you for 5 damn mins and say some of the most awful things as to. What and how they want to treat it.
    The problem is they the dr.s thru you on all kinds of meds . You start them on the for a year or more and then it's we've got a new medication out let's try you on that now or the insurance company doesn't want to pay for it anymore and it's very expensive and that's why people commit suicide it's very hard to live with mental illness it's very very hard I can't even stress how hard it is. Hopefully people will help the ones that find the right med and keep them on it instead of after 43 yrs on that med and 4 attempts of trying to get out of my own skin. Then it's kinda to late for the help people want o give. The damage is done
    Thanks for the song . Was like living in my life as we speak
    Still fighting it
  • Birdee from ColoradoI am hard to love for this reason. But I am loved like this. My husband is my hero and makes sure I stay connected with my counselor.
  • Andrea from Forney, TxAmazing song. Gives me chills. I want to be loved unconditionally like this.
  • Dolly Mitchell from Belfast Great thought provoking song and Chris has a great voice.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.