About The Song
“Better Than I Used to Be” is a song written by Bryan Simpson, recorded by American country music artist Sammy Kershaw, and released in July 2010 as the lead single from his eleventh studio album Better Than I Used to Be on Big Hit Records. The song peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, marking a notable return for Kershaw to the country charts after a period of lower visibility following his peak in the 1990s.
The recording took place in Nashville, produced by Buddy Cannon, with a contemporary country arrangement featuring acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and Kershaw’s seasoned vocal delivery. The session included musicians such as Brent Mason on electric guitar and Larry Franklin on fiddle, contributing to the song’s reflective yet hopeful tone. The track runs 3:22 on the album, with the single version maintaining the same length for radio play. Better Than I Used to Be, released on September 28, 2010, marked Kershaw’s first album on an independent label after leaving Mercury Records, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
The lyrics narrate a man’s journey of self-improvement and redemption after past mistakes, with lines like “I haven’t drunk or smoked nothin’ since / Thank God them days are gone.” The song reflects on personal growth, with “I’m better than I used to be / I ain’t the man I was,” showcasing a theme of overcoming struggles. The track was originally recorded by Tim McGraw in 2007 for his album Let It Go, but Kershaw’s version gained attention for its raw emotional delivery, earning praise for reviving his career.
The music video, directed by Eric Welch, premiered in 2010, featuring Kershaw performing in a rustic setting with flashbacks of his past life, aligning with the song’s narrative of transformation. It was released to support the single’s promotion. Kershaw, born Samuel Paul Cashat on February 24, 1958, in Kaplan, Louisiana, brought his personal experiences to the recording, having faced challenges including addiction and financial difficulties in the early 2000s.
The track was released in multiple formats, including digital download and CD single, with B-sides like “That Train” from the same album. It was performed live during Kershaw’s 2010 tour, with a 14-piece band, and was later included on his 2012 compilation Greatest Hits, Chapter 2. The song’s success led to a renewed interest in Kershaw’s catalog, with the album featuring additional singles like “I Know a Little.”
Video
Lyric
I haven’t drunk or smoked nothin’ since
Thank God them days are gone
I ain’t runnin’ from nothin’
I ain’t hidin’ from no oneI’m better than I used to be
I ain’t the man I was
I’ve buried all my grudges
And I’ve learned to hold my tongueI’ve cleaned up all my messes
Put my past behind me now
I’ve learned to live with who I am
And I’m better than I used to beI’ve quit chasing shadows
Stopped running from the past
The mistakes I’ve made
Are lessons I’ve learned at lastI’m better than I used to be
I ain’t the man I was
I’ve buried all my grudges
And I’ve learned to hold my tongueI’ve cleaned up all my messes
Put my past behind me now
I’ve learned to live with who I am
And I’m better than I used to beThe road’s been long
But I’ve come this far
With every scar, I’ve grown
No more looking back
Just moving onI’m better than I used to be
I ain’t the man I was
I’ve buried all my grudges
And I’ve learned to hold my tongueI’ve cleaned up all my messes
Put my past behind me now
I’ve learned to live with who I am
And I’m better than I used to be