All These Years


"All These Years" is a song written by Mac McAnally, originally recorded on his 1992 album Live and Learn. It was later recorded by American country music group Sawyer Brown. It was released in November 1992 as the second single from their album Cafe on the Corner. Their version peaked at 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, in addition to being a minor AC hit, peaking at 42 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.

Content

The song opens with the story with an apparently serially unfaithful wife having an affair, and her husband catching her in a tryst Frustrated at the betrayal, he tells her he's been responsible and has been working hard to provide, despite their issues He frustratingly realizes he can't trust her: "Don't you rub it in too hard that I've been wrong."
They argue, with the wife beginning defensively to which he snaps back "Neither is this guy." She acknowledges both of their roles in the couple's issues She points out that while he was working, she took care of their house and home and raised the family and sees how much she stands to lose
The repeat of the final refrain, "I'm still here and so confused; But I can finally see how much I stand to lose; All these years," attributed to neither the husband nor wife, indicates that both have seen what they have to lose, but are confused at the way forward.

Critical reception

, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it "a downer, but effectively presented for a dreary breakup number." He goes on to says that the positive is that listeners feel like there was a "meeting of the minds".

Other versions

recorded it on his 1993 album Live and Learn. McAnally's version was the b-side to the album's first single, which was its title track.

Chart positions

"All These Years" debuted at number 72 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 28, 1992.
Chart Peak
position

Year-end charts