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

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."