High Road

Album: released as a single (2024)
Charted: 66 29
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Songfacts®:

  • "High Road" is an intimate, introspective piece that explores themes of loss, self-reflection, and growth. It was released at a deeply turbulent moment for Zach Bryan.

    The country star put out the song on November 7, 2024, the same day his ex-girlfriend, Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia, went public with allegations of emotional abuse against him on her BFFs podcast.
  • Bryan and LaPaglia began dating in July 2023, and their relationship remained in the public eye until their breakup, which Bryan announced on Instagram on October 22, 2024. In "High Road," Bryan reflects on how his former partner is gone, yet her presence still lingers everywhere he goes.

    Amid this public and personal turmoil, Bryan made a visit to his mother Annette's grave in Oklahoma. During the song, he reminisces about conversations they had while sitting on her porch before she passed away in August 2016.
  • The phrase "taking the high road" generally means choosing the more ethical path even when it's tough. Though the title never appears in the lyrics, it suggests Bryan's attempt to navigate grief and loss with dignity, confronting complex emotions head-on.
  • Bryan wrote and produced "High Road" himself, crafting a sparse, atmospheric sound that mirrors the weight of his lyrics.
  • In an Instagram post, Bryan shared that he'd written the song's chorus "a month or two back" and found closure in finishing it as he reflected on the blessings in his life.

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