'The Day I Die' by Chris Stapleton - Lyrics & Meaning

The eleventh song on Chris Stapleton's fifth studio album Higher, released on 10th November 2023, 'The Day I Die' can be considered a deep cut off the record, yet of course, a no less well-rounded track.

Finding Stapleton in a moment of emotional sincerity, the song addresses - with some intensity - the all-consuming power of love found and lost, and the emotional strain that comes part and parcel with it.

An expansive and soul-infused number, 'The Day I Die' stars Stapleton on vocals, acoustic guitar and high-strung acoustic guitar. Additionally featured are Morgane Stapleton on background vocals, Dave Cobb on acoustic guitar, J.T. Cure on bass, Lee Pardini on piano, Paul Franklin on pedal steel and Derek Mixon on drums.

Stapleton's vocal immediately hits the gritty prolonged notes he's loved for in the opening verse, to a simple backing of strummed acoustic guitar and delicately whining pedal steel. Like any good builder of a song, a euphoric drum beat kicks in, welcoming along keys and bass.

'The Day I Die' is a classic country ballad through and through, with its cinematic atmosphere bringing a slight sense of uplift to the otherwise solemn lyrics.

“When my heart stops breakin'
When my eyes won't cry
When there's a day I can live without you, baby
It'll be the day I die”

From the off, it's clear that Stapleton is writing from the perspective of heartbreak. He's declaring with utter certainty that he cannot live with any happiness without the one he loves.

“I had never ever, ever hurt this way
The pain is almost more than I can take
I'd give anythin' for you to stay with me
And never say, "Goodbye"”

When my heart stops breakin'
When my eyes won't cry
When there's a day I can live without you, baby
It'll be the day I die

I don't understand the rеasons why
Was every "I love you" a lovеr's lie?
Please, tell me that you felt it at the time
And that what we had was real

One of the worst parts of heartbreak is when your mind starts to spiral through doubt. You begin questioning whether what you thought was true was in fact delivered insincerely; if the one you love never actually loved you back. In this verse, Stapleton gets caught up in fearing his feelings were unrequited, confused by how something that felt so real could no longer be.

On Morgane's vocal partnering, as is showcased on ‘The Day I Die’, Chris Stapleton remarked to SiriusXM's The Highway that, “There [are] no collaborations on the record. My wife is my eternal collaborator, so she’s on there singing with us as usual”.

“When my heart stops breakin'
When my eyes won't cry
When there's a day I can live without you, baby
It'll be the day I die

I had never ever, ever hurt this way
The pain is almost more than I can take
I'd give anythin' for you to stay with me
And never say, "Goodbye"

When my heart stops breakin'
When my eyes won't cry
When there's a day I can live without you, baby
It'll be the day I die

I don't understand the rеasons why
Was every "I love you" a lovеr's lie?
Please, tell me that you felt it at the time
And that what we had was real

When my heart stops breakin'
When my eyes won't cry
When there's a day I can live without you, baby
It'll be the day I die”

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For more on Chris Stapleton, see below: