I Can Do Hard Things

Album: single release only (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A slow, acoustic guitar-driven song, "I Can Do Hard Things" is an anthem for personal empowerment which finds Jennifer Nettles musing on overcoming adversity.

    Sometimes I don't like it
    But that don't mean I don't love it
    Sometimes I get down so low
    But that don't mean I can't rise above it


    Nettles explained on Twitter: "This song for me is a truth telling, a bloodletting, a real-life heart opening to what it means to be a grown woman. It is my offering to honor the reality that, as I like to say, everything is everything."
  • The black-and-white video for the song, filmed in Nashville and Brooklyn, shows seven women giving us a glimpse into their lives. The personal "hard things" they overcome range from caring for the disabled and single motherhood to sexual assault:

    "This song took on a life quickly and unexpectedly," Nettles explained to ABC Radio. "For me, in writing it, I was just writing my own Truth and story. But what I have come to see is that so many women share this Truth, and that inspired me to make an invitation."

    The clip was filmed by photographer Katie Kauss, whose other credits include shooting the cover of Will Hoge's Small Town Dreams album.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.