I Can't Outrun You

Album: X (2008)
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Songfacts®:

  • On this haunting Country-Soul number, Adkins shows his vulnerable side when he sings about not being able to outrun that past love. He told CMT News about the background to this song: "I made a statement one time at the very beginning of my career, and I said that when I sing a song about heartache, I'm not singing about somebody giving back my senior ring. I'm talking about it from the most devastating, serious point of view. I've been through just a horrendous divorce [from his first wife], and I can say this without fear of upsetting my [current] wife. She knows I love her, and everything's cool. But when my first wife and I got divorced, I was devastated. I mean, I was heartbroken. I mean totally, and I didn't ever think I'd get past it, really. I mean, there were days when I didn't think I was simply going to live through that heartache. It manifested itself into physical pain. I could feel it. It hurt that bad, and I just couldn't get away from it. So when I recorded this song, I just went back there in my head and what that felt like. That's where this song comes from."
  • Adkins sung this song in the style of a Sinatra-type crooner. He explained on the album's promotional materials: "I'm not afraid to do stuff like that, and we've done stuff like that live, we've just never recorded that starkly. I told (producer) Frank (Rogers) that on this one I wanted the vocal to do the work, and carry the entire load, that's the way I want to cut this and put my voice out there and let the chips fall where they may."
  • The song was covered by husband and wife duo Thompson Square on their 2013 album, Just Feels Good.

Comments: 4

  • Nightthorn K'vala from Sacramento, CaThe country a cappella group Home Free did a wonderful video for this song in late 2017. The guys' voices blended beautifully behind Adam Chance's, who also directed it.
  • Susan from Acworth, GaSorry for the correction, but Trace was shot by his 2nd wife, not his first. Just read his book-again!
  • Trudy from Peoria, IlI've been there; I feel his pain and mine all over again when I listen to this song.
    Thanks, Trace, for your depth and sincerity.
  • Matt from Houston, TxHe got shot in the heart by his first wife and shot in the knee on a seperate occasion.that's probably what he meant by "manifested into physical pain"
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