Midway through Chris Stapleton's sophomore album, From A Room, Vol. 1, you'll hit the record's emotional climax, "Either Way."
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Accompanied only by his guitar, Stapleton tackles a sorrowful and challenging subject, much like "Whiskey And You" did with alcoholism on his first album, Traveller.
"Either Way" sketches a broken relationship where both lovers are going through the motions devoid of any love for one another. "The only time we talk is when the monthly bills are due/we go to work, we go to church, we fake the perfect life."
Part of Stapleton's massive success as a mainstream artist is his ability to make you feel every lyric in his songs. Even if you've never lived through a fizzling relationship at the end of its rope, Stapleton puts you right there in the hallway with your despondent lover passing by.
Similar to "Whiskey And You," Stapleton also wrote "Either Way" well before his solo career began, and gave both songs to other artists to record first. Lee Ann Womack cut "Either Way" for her 2008 album, Call Me Crazy. But Chris's cut is in a class of its own and leaves a tremendous impact when you hear it on the record and watch him perform it live.
Stapleton recently visited Charlie Rose to perform the song just as its recorded on the album, with just as much of an emotional punch.
Say what you will about the state of modern country music; just thank God we have an artist like Stapleton topping the charts with music like this.
So far, From A Room, Vol. 1 has been both a critical and commercial success. The album debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, where it's currently riding in the No. 2 position.
Stapleton is currently on a tour that extends through late fall. Click here for dates to see when he's coming to a town near you.
"Either Way" Lyrics
We pass in the hall on our way to separate rooms
The only time we ever talk is when the monthly bills are due
We go to work, we go to church
We fake the perfect life
I'm past the point of giving damns
All my tears are cried
We can just go on like this
Say the word, we'll call it quits
Baby, you can go or you can stay
But I won't love you either way
It's been so long since I've felt
Anything inside these walls
You can't help, you can't hurt
When you don't feel at all
I used to cry and stay up nights
And wonder what went wrong
It's been hard
But hearts can only do that for so long
We can just go on like this
Say the word, we'll call it quits
Baby, you can go or you can stay
I won't love you either way
We can just go on like this
Say the word, we'll call it quits
Baby, you can go or you can stay
But I won't love you either way
