Better Than I Used To Be

Album: Crazytalk (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song came about when Mat Kearney was on a writing trip in LA and he met AFSHeeN and Josh Cumbee who both previously worked with Madonna on her Rebel Heart album. Kearney said: "AFSHeeN was like a really talented electronic artist and we just were talking about being away from people you love and chasing your dreams you have, and the price you pay to do that."

    He added: "The line, 'Things don't go just the way you planned it but I never thought we'd have so much to take for granted' kind of summed up the song like you gotta go for it and it's hard but ultimately I'm better than I used to be."
  • Mat Kearney said regarding the song's meaning: "It's about growing, chasing a dream and how hard that can be sometimes. Chasing this dream of mine is something you all have allowed me to do over the years."
  • The song was released on November 10, 2017. It was Kearney's first new music since his 2015 album Just Kids. He explained the delay: "I know it's been a while. I didn't think it would take quite this long to get the music to you but a lot of unexpected things happened this year - bringing a human into this world and starting an independent label to name a few."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.