Better Than I Used To Be

Album: Crazytalk (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song came about when Mat Kearney was on a writing trip in LA and he met AFSHeeN and Josh Cumbee who both previously worked with Madonna on her Rebel Heart album. Kearney said: "AFSHeeN was like a really talented electronic artist and we just were talking about being away from people you love and chasing your dreams you have, and the price you pay to do that."

    He added: "The line, 'Things don't go just the way you planned it but I never thought we'd have so much to take for granted' kind of summed up the song like you gotta go for it and it's hard but ultimately I'm better than I used to be."
  • Mat Kearney said regarding the song's meaning: "It's about growing, chasing a dream and how hard that can be sometimes. Chasing this dream of mine is something you all have allowed me to do over the years."
  • The song was released on November 10, 2017. It was Kearney's first new music since his 2015 album Just Kids. He explained the delay: "I know it's been a while. I didn't think it would take quite this long to get the music to you but a lot of unexpected things happened this year - bringing a human into this world and starting an independent label to name a few."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.