I Can't Love You Anymore

Album: Humble Quest (2022)
Play Video

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."
  • In 2023, Morris decided she couldn't love Hurd anymore, and she filed for divorce. All those songs she wrote about him can be painful reminder of their failed marriage, but she's made peace with them, explaining that the songs are still relevant because they reflect what she was feeling at the time.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.