Better Man, Better Off
{{Infobox song
| name = Better Man, Better Off
| cover = Tracy Lawrence - better man.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Tracy Lawrence
| album = The Coast Is Clear
| released = February 22, 1997
| recorded = 1996
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = 3:35
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Stan Paul Davis
Brett Jones{{cite AV media notes |title=The Coast Is Clear |others=Tracy Lawrence |year=1997 |publisher=Atlantic Records |id=82985-2}}
| producer = Flip Anderson
Tracy Lawrence
| prev_title = Is That a Tear
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye
| next_year = 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.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|date=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}} 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 {{sic|believeability|expected=believability}} that adds to the strength of the song."Billboard, February 22, 1997
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.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Coast Is Clear |others=Tracy Lawrence |year=1997 |publisher=Atlantic Records |id=82985-2}}
- Mark Casstevens – acoustic guitar
- Deryl Dodd – background vocals
- Paul Franklin – steel guitar
- Rob Hajacos – fiddle
- Tony Harrell – piano, keyboards
- Liana Manis – background vocals
- Terry McMillan – percussion
- 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.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (1997) !align="center"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|Canadacountry|3|chartid=3213|publishdate=May 26, 1997|accessdate=July 17, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardbubbling100|8|artist=Tracy Lawrence}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=Tracy Lawrence}} |
=Year-end charts=
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tracy Lawrence}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Don Cook