I Can't Love You Anymore

Album: Humble Quest (2022)
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Songfacts®:

  • Maren Morris married fellow country singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd on March 24, 2018. This cheery jaunt finds the singer crooning of her love for her husband - she simply can't love him any more than she does.
  • Ryan Hurd suggested the idea for the song during a visit to the Hawaiian home of co-writer/producer Greg Kurstin (Kelly Clarkson's "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," Sia's "Cheap Thrills," Adele's "Hello" and "Easy On Me"). "I was hooked," Morris recalled to Audacy.

    She added that it reminded her of the John Prine track "In Spite Of Ourselves," which is one of her favorites.
  • "In Spite of Ourselves" is about two flawed people who are perfect together. This song finds Morris honoring Hurd for loving her despite her imperfections.

    Bring me coffee every mornin'
    You're fun even when you're boring
    And you like me even when I've been a bitch


    Hurd's all-encompassing love for her makes Morris adore her husband even more.
  • Morris, Hurd and Kurstin actually wrote "I Can't Love You Anymore" after the married couple had an argument. The cheery lyrical content and happy melody reflect a post-spat rebound.

    "Ryan and I were bickering about something - I can't even remember what, it was so stupid," Morris told Billboard. "But we were kind of arguing that morning, and then going into the write, Ryan threw that title out and it just sort of lightened the mood: 'I can't love you any more than I do now.' So the song ended up becoming couples therapy for us."
  • Hurd added harmony vocals to the choruses, underlining their kinship. "I wanted it to feel like we were facing each other and just singing it at each other," said Morris.
  • Kurstin played most of the instruments (acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, percussion and piano). Musician Rich Hinman overdubbed steel guitar, and Bennett Lewis of Morris' road band added Dobro.
  • Morris and Hurd first met in 2013 during a writing session shortly after Morris moved to Nashville. Since then, he's frequently been a muse for her songs. They include: "RSVP," "Good Woman," "Make Out with Me," "To Hell & Back," and "Background Music."

    Hurd also recounted the story of how he and Morris first hooked up on "Love in a Bar."

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