We Ain't Good At Breaking Up

Album: Brothers Osborne (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "We Ain't Good At Breaking Up" is a playful honky-tonk tune about a relationship that stands the test of time. The title and theme started out as a jokey response TJ Osborne gave when friends asked if he and his boyfriend, Abi Ventura, were still together.

    "There was a time early in our relationship where we felt like it didn't make a lot of sense, we didn't live near each other, we were both so busy and other different things, that we tried to call it off, but we would try to break up and we just wouldn't," TJ recalled to Billboard.
  • When TJ Osborne shared his experience with friend and songwriter Jesse Frasure, he suggested they bring the song idea into co-write with Miranda Lambert scheduled the following week.

    A gender-neutral midtempo ballad emerged from the collaborative songwriting session featuring TJ Osborne, John Osborne, Miranda Lambert, and Jesse Frasure. "It doesn't get into super specifics, necessarily, of my sexuality or anything," TJ told Apple Music. "All along we've always had gender-neutral songs intentionally and we've still stuck with that theme, which I personally like."
  • Lambert's vocals on the demo were such an enhancement, they decided to add her harmony vocals on the actual track. "It just really makes the song, sends it into a dreamy, almost Fleetwood Mac kind of thing," said TJ.
  • The song was recorded for Brothers Osborne's self-titled fourth studio album. TJ and John recruited Mike Elizondo (Sheryl Crow, Dr. Dre, Twenty One Pilots, Lin-Manual Miranda) to produce the record, entrusting him with curating his own band of studio musicians, including Paul McCartney's drummer, Abe Laboriel Jr. Elizondo played bass and keyboards on the set.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.