Songfacts®:

• On "Man or the Song" Old Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey wrestles with the split identity of life as an artist. The track digs into the push and pull between the man behind the music and the version of himself immortalized onstage and in records.
  
  Rosen told Billboard the idea came from living in two worlds at once: "On the road, you're on a pedestal in front of thousands of fans. At home, you're just taking out the trash and getting the kids to school. Sometimes you wonder, 'Am I losing myself in this industry, and how do I stay grounded?'"
• This isn't the first time Old Dominion has explored identity through musical metaphors. Their 2019 hit "One Man Band" used the image of a lone musician craving harmony to speak about the need for love and connection. Their 2025 single "Water My Flowers" continued that tradition, turning the simple act of tending a graveyard garden into a meditation on remembrance, legacy, and hoping someone still cares once you're no longer around to ask.
• Ramsey penned the song with bandmates Brad Tursi and Trevor Rosen, alongside Ross Copperman and Shane McAnally. Copperman and McAnally produced Old Dominion's 2023 album Memory Lane along with the band.
• Old Dominion saved "Man Or The Song" for years, recognizing its emotional depth. In fact, they recorded it in the very same session as "Coming Home," but opted to hold it back until it felt truly ready so it wouldn't get lost among their more upbeat tracks.