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"Better Man, Better Off"
Single by Tracy Lawrence
from the album The Coast Is Clear
Released	February 22, 1997
Recorded	1996
Genre	Country
Length	3:35
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Stan Paul Davis Brett Jones
Producer(s)	Flip Anderson Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence singles chronology
"Is That a Tear" (1996) "Better Man, Better Off" (1997) "How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye" (1997)

"Better Man, Better Off" is a song written by Stan Paul Davis and Brett Jones, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in February 1997 as the first single from his album The Coast Is Clear. The song was Lawrence's eighteenth chart single and it peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1997 and reached number 3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. It also peaked at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, making it a minor crossover hit.

Content

"Better Man, Better Off" is a mid-tempo in the key of D major. In it, the narrator admits his mistakes in a failed relationship, but says that he will be a "better man, better off" for having learned from his mistakes.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it lyrically similar to Clint Black's "A Better Man". She goes on to say that the production "gives the tune a radio-ready feel, and Lawrence sings with a believeability [sic] that adds to the strength of the song."

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael Merriman, and premiered on CMT on February 24, 1997. Tracy Lawrence no longer had a mullet, so he shaved off his mustache, and his hair was shorter.

Personnel

Compiled from the liner notes.

• Mark Casstevens – acoustic guitar
• Deryl Dodd – background vocals
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar
• Rob Hajacos – fiddle
• Tony Harrell – piano, keyboards
• Terry McMillan – percussion
• Liana Manis – background vocals
• Dave Pomeroy – bass guitar
• Brent Rowan – electric guitar, mandolin
• Milton Sledge – drums

Chart positions

"Better Man, Better Off" debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of February 22, 1997.

Year-end charts

References

1. ^ The Coast Is Clear (Media notes). Tracy Lawrence. Atlantic Records. 1997. 82985-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
3. Billboard, February 22, 1997
4. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3213." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 26, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
5. "Tracy Lawrence Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
6. "Tracy Lawrence Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
7. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
8. "Best of 1997: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.

• 1997 singles
• Tracy Lawrence songs
• Song recordings produced by Don Cook
• Atlantic Records singles
• 1997 songs
• Songs written by Brett Jones (songwriter)