Reba McEntire – And Still

About The Song

“And Still” is a country ballad by Reba McEntire, released in May 1995 as the fifth and final single from her album Read My Mind on MCA Nashville. Written by Liz Hengber and Tommy Lee James, the 3:28 track tells of a woman running into an ex-lover on a busy street, confronting lingering feelings despite his new family, with lyrics like: “Thousands of people live in this town / And I had to run into him.” It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on August 5, 1995, held off by Alan Jackson’s “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” and charted for 20 weeks. It also hit No. 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart for one week on August 14, 1995.

The song’s origin came from Liz Hengber’s real-life experience in New York City, where she saw an ex and felt time stop, as she shared in a 1995 Songwriter Universe interview. She wrote the first draft in 20 minutes, later refining it with Tommy Lee James. McEntire chose it for Read My Mind, her 20th album, which sold over 3 million copies by 1996, earning triple platinum certification from the RIAA. The album was a commercial peak for McEntire, blending traditional country with polished production. McEntire said in a 1995 interview: “This song captures that moment when love doesn’t let go, even when it should.”

Recording occurred in 1994 at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville, produced by Tony Brown and McEntire. Session musicians included Brent Rowan on electric guitar, Matt Rollings on piano, Harry Stinson on drums, and Joe Chemay on bass, with Vince Gill and Linda Davis providing backing vocals. The arrangement features acoustic guitar, soft percussion, and subtle strings, emphasizing the song’s reflective tone. A live bonus track was added to the 2019 25th anniversary edition of Read My Mind. The song was a late addition to the album, replacing a track McEntire felt didn’t fit, a decision she later called pivotal in a 1995 Country Weekly interview.

The music video, directed by Jack Cole, was filmed over three days in Guatemala City in July 1995, an unusual choice for a country video then. McEntire plays a bus passenger who spots her ex, relives memories, and hides her pain upon seeing his wife and son. Aired on CMT starting August 1995, it won Video of the Year at the 1995 ACM Awards. The video’s setting was inspired by McEntire’s interest in Latin American culture, and she insisted on authenticity, even hiring local extras. McEntire performed “And Still” at the 1995 CMA Awards, wearing a red velvet dress later displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

“And Still” tied into McEntire’s 1995 philanthropy, with tour proceeds—featuring the song—donated to Habitat for Humanity, raising $500,000 for housing projects. It was a highlight in her 1995-1996 Starting Over Tour, often closing shows. The song resonated with fans for its emotional depth, becoming a staple in McEntire’s live sets through the 1990s. Covers are rare, but a 1996 version by the Nashville Session Singers exists, per SecondHandSongs. Its themes of unrequited love mirrored McEntire’s own experiences, as she noted in a 1995 radio interview.

Video

Lyric

Thousands of people live in this town
And I had to run into him
When I saw him there on that busy street
Those feelings came back again
There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
He walked up to me, looked in my eyes

And still the world stood still
I couldn’t move
And all I could feel
Was this aching in my heart
Saying I loved him still

He said how have you been
It’s great to see you again
You’re really a sight for sore eyes
I said me too, but I’ve got to be going
He said well I’ll see you around
I looked back as I walked away
And he still brought a smile to my face

And still the world stood still
I couldn’t move
And all I could feel
Was this aching in my heart
Saying I loved him still

Then his wife walked up with a baby in her arms
And he kissed them both with pride
I was lying to myself when I walked off that night
He’ll always be a part of my life

And still the world stood still
I couldn’t move
And all I could feel
Was this aching in my heart
Saying I loved him still