Better As A Memory by Kenny Chesney

Album: Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates (2007)

Charted: 46

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Chesney told CMT that this is the most personal song on his album: "It's the most brutally honest song on this record about me and about my reality. That whole song is a letter that I've written to several girls. It's very honest. It's a brutally honest song. It really is. And they will definitely open up the book a little bit and see inside just a touch."
The song was written by Scooter Carusoe and Lady Goodman (pen names for Travis Hill and Holly Gleason, respectively). Chesney told The Boot why he recorded the tune. "I am that guy in 'Better as a Memory,'" he said. "I think this is the letter that I've written three or four times in my life to people. It's the perfect definition of a carefree spirit. We all have relationships with people, and we all give what we can."

"You know, there's a bit of me in some songs and a lot of me in a lot of them," Chesney added. "This is definitely one of them that that really defines me right now. When I wrote those letters, I was 'better as a memory' than as their man… I promise you.'"
This became Chesney's 14th #1 country hit in June 2008 and also earned the singer a Top 50 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

Comments: 3

MelissaThese lyrics remind me of two different points in my life. One was not a “relationship”, it reminds in many ways of my father who took his life. The vibe of the song, has this idea that he wasn’t enough. He was always enough! There was just a lot going on and it was difficult to see the positives of tomorrow. The 2nd was an ex. It’s funny how you can be hurt over and over, and yet still want to help the individual. You begin to believe in them more than they do. But sadly, no matter how much you love someone, they need to make health changes, no one can do that for them. So he is better as a memory, than he was as my man.
No Longer Her Man from In Her Memory I wanted to be her man. Forever. Never wanted to be a memory. But here I am. Alone.
Lisa from Oshkosh, WiI see his face everytime I hear it...because it's exactly how he always felt. man, I miss him...

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