You Can Feel Bad

Album: The Trouble With The Truth (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Some guys take pride in the heartbreak they inflict after a breakup, imagining their exes reading those old love letters and still wearing their sweaters. In this song, Patty Loveless wants the guy to know that she's moved on and might even go out tonight to celebrate. But if it makes him feel better to think she's still hung up on him, she's happy to let him live in that fantasy land. Or as she puts it, "You can feel bad if it makes you feel better."
  • The song was written by the professional songwriters Matraca Berg and Tim Krekel. Berg's other hits include "Strawberry Wine" by Deana Carter and "Hey Cinderella" by Suzy Bogguss. Tim Krekel, who died in 2009, often co-wrote with Berg, including the Martina McBride song "Cry On The Shoulder Of The Road."
  • The song was a #1 Country hit in 1996, a big year for Loveless, who also topped the chart with "Lonely Too Long" that year. Both songs are from her album The Trouble With The Truth.
  • Loveless has a lot of songs where she's forlorn in love - "Nothin' But The Wheel" and "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" are examples - but she also recorded some defiant, empowering songs like this one. Other examples include "Blame It on Your Heart" and "I'm That Kind of Girl."
  • You have to squint to hear him, but Vince Gill is one of the backup singers. Both were signed to MCA Records and are good friends.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

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.