‘We Don't Fight Anymore’ by Carly Pearce & Chris Stapleton - Lyrics & Meaning

Most people see their 30th year as a defining one - or perhaps the prime time for a midlife crisis - but Carly Pearce has turned that epoch into her banner year(s).

When she turned 29 in April of 2019, Pearce couldn't have imagined all the life obstacles that she would face, or how a year filled with trials and tribulations would go on to define her young career and solidify her as one of country music's leading ladies.

After being married, and soon after divorced, to fellow country singer Michael Ray, and losing her longtime collaborator and producer busbee to a battle with brain cancer, Pearce found herself creating her most raw and vulnerable collection of music to date.

Taking shape as her critically acclaimed EP-turned-album, 29: Written in Stone, the 15-track project included her top 20 hit, 'Next Girl', as well as her third and fourth career No. 1s - the Grammy-winning 'Never Wanted to Be That Girl' and 'What He Didn't Do'. The record, which showed Pearce's notable growth as both a songwriter and vocalist, also spawned a live album, 29: Written in Stone (Live from Music City).

Now, at the age of 33, Pearce has begun writing the latest chapter of her career with the release of the Chris Stapleton-graced 'We Don't Fight Anymore.'

The song, which Pearce first teased on socials in September of 2022, continues the same tone that was found throughout much of her 29 era, but with what feels like a stronger breath of confidence and strength from the Kentucky-born entertainer.

As the first taste of new music from the award-winning songwriter, 'We Don't Fight Anymore' will officially impact country radio on June 20, and there's little doubt that the tune will quickly notch Pearce her fifth chart-topper.

As far as Holler is concerned, you can also do no wrong whenever Chris Stapleton is involved.

Opening with a simple, soothing mandolin, you immediately feel the melancholy that 'We Don't Fight Anymore' has been marinated in.

Accompanied by an acoustic guitar and a low drum beat, the production leaves you with an empty feeling that perfectly parallels the song's lonesome lyrics, which were written by Pearce, Pete Good and award-winning wordsmith, Shane McAnally.

Co-helmed by Pearce, along with McAnally and Josh Osborne - the minds behind much of the 29 era - the single keeps Pearce's vocals front and center as her crisp, Kentucky drawl shines in front of the acoustic backdrop.

Meanwhile, the chorus sees another much-loved Kentuckian, the legendary Chris Stapleton, sneak in with his chilling, husky harmonies, practically hitting you like 5,000 watts right to the chest.

Though his performance is mostly limited to those stunning harmonies, Stapleton's lightning rod of a voice does steal a few beats at the end of the second chorus, where he runs free with an especially scrumptious vocal run, before the duo take turns trading off lines in the bridge.

As the pair's vocals effortlessly soar together into the stratosphere and leave you with a couple armfuls of goosebumps, 'We Don't Fight Anymore' secures itself as nearly four minutes of Kentucky-drenched perfection.

“I couldn't make you jealous if I tried
You couldn't care less if I stayed out all night
I don't even look into your eyes
Cause the truth is I don't even care if you're lying

In this bed we
Might as well be
Across the ocean tonight"

The scene opens on a couple who have simply run out of love, and frankly, the will to keep trying.

While the song doesn't explicitly share what has happened for this pair of lovers-turned-strangers, we can infer that Pearce is bringing us into a snapshot in time at the end of her and Michael Ray's relationship, where they just didn't have it in them anymore to care.

What results is an overall air of indifference and a bed with two people who feel miles apart.

"We don't yell cause what the hell difference would it make
We don't cuss and we don't care enough to even hate
We could tear up the house
We could burn the whole thing down
But, boy, what for
Cause we don't even fight anymore"

As we roll into the chorus and are greeted with Stapleton's soft yet gravely growl, we get a better picture of the situation at hand.

Our two ex-lovers could scream, argue and tear each other apart if they wanted to, but they've hit a point where it wouldn't make a difference anymore. After everything they've been through, they can't even find it within themselves to fight each other - or for each other - anymore.

"The only time we ever touch is in the hall
We talk about the weather, if we talk at all
If your phone rings in the middle of the night
I don't even try to look to see who's calling

I had a bad day but
You don't know it cause
You don't ask and I don't show it"

In what could be interpreted as a clever reference to her last hit duet, 'Never Wanted to Be That Girl,' our lead has gotten to the point that she doesn't even care if he's cheating. They barely talk, they never touch and they're practically strangers nowadays, so who even cares?

"We don't yell cause what the hell difference would it make
We don't cuss and we don't care enough to even hate
We could tear up the house
We could burn the whole thing down
But, boy, what for
Cause we don't even fight anymore"

When Pearce officially shared the single announcement at the beginning of June, she took to socials, saying, "This song embodies a place that I think, if we are honest with ourselves, we’ve all felt at some point in a relationship. The distance that feels heartbreaking, yet you’re also indifferent.

"I’ve always been a writer who never wanted to shy away from the ‘uncomfortable’ moments in all of our lives, and this song feels too important not to share," she continued. "[Chris Stapleton], you made my dreams come true by lending your incredible talents to this song."

As she was preparing to make her CMA Fest 2023 main stage debut on June 8, she also chatted with Audacy backstage at the Nissan Stadium about the new single.

"Everybody has their highlight reel on social media. They don't show you sometimes the backstage of what a relationship can look like," she shared. "When we wrote it, I heard Chris singing on it... I DM'd his wife, Morgane, and asked her if I could send a song to him and it just snowballed.

"He ended up doing something so special on it that kind of unlocked the other side to the story," Pearce added. "It's literally the most proud I've ever been to put out a song".

“I couldn't make you jealous if I tried
You couldn't care less if I stayed out all night
I don't even look into your eyes
Cause the truth is I don't even care if you're lying

In this bed we
Might as well be
Across the ocean tonight

We don't yell cause what the hell difference would it make
We don't cuss and we don't care enough to even hate
We could tear up the house
We could burn the whole thing down
But, boy, what for
Cause we don't even fight anymore

The only time we ever touch is in the hall
We talk about the weather, if we talk at all
If your phone rings in the middle of the night
I don't even try to look to see who's calling

I had a bad day but
You don't know it cause
You don't ask and I don't show it

We don't yell cause what the hell difference would it make
We don't cuss and we don't care enough to even hate
We could tear up the house
We could burn the whole thing down
But, boy, what for
Cause we don't even fight anymore

I wish you would say something
(Say anything)
You wish I would say something
(Say anything)
But we never say nothing
No, we never say nothing

We don't yell cause what the hell difference would it make
We don't cuss and we don't care enough to even hate
We could tear up the house
We could burn the whole thing down
But, boy, what for
Cause we don't even fight anymore

No, we don't
(No, we don't even)”

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