Maggie's Song

Album: Starting Over (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Chris Stapleton and his wife Morgane bid farewell to their beloved family dog in 2019 when she passed away aged 14. He penned this tribute to their "fuzzy black pup" the day after her death.
  • Stapleton starts off the song by recounting finding Maggie abandoned in a shopping cart, and the playful relationship the pup shared with their five children. After the Stapletons moved to a ranch, Maggie "loved to chase squirrels" and kept their kids "safe from harm."

    Stapleton then tells the tear-jerking story of the day of Maggie's death. He recalls how one rainy Monday morning their dog woke up and found she couldn't stand. She laid her head in the singer's hand one last time. "I told her she was a good dog," he croons. "Then I told her goodbye."

    "That one was hard to sing," Stapleton told the LA Times. "I kept crying through a lot of it."
  • Written by Stapleton along with his longtime producer Dave Cobb, the song features Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on piano, Wurlitzer and Hammond B3.
  • Chris Stapleton performed the song with special guest Miranda Lambert during the 2021 ACM Awards. Lambert filled in for Morgane Stapleton, who was on "baby watch" as Chris' sister-in-law was in labor.

Comments: 4

  • Richard from TexasThis song hit home with me as well and like Chris I can't get through it without crying. I change the words to my dogs name and honor his memory.
  • Madgeballard from ScI truly visualized this song. It definitely made the tears flow!
  • Jan Breedon from Oregonlike millions of fans this song touched me. two days ago my precious dog friend of 15 years was passing away i sang this to her putting her name Fiona in the chorus and held her as she died. the song helped me get through that moment i dreaded so much. Run Fiona Run. thank you Chris. sincerely Jan Breedon
  • Kb from Marathon, FlI lost my dear dog Daisy in 2020. When I heard this I wept.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?