Rascal Flatts has earned many hits throughout their career, but few are as heartbreaking as “What Hurts The Most.” Acrobatic vocals, insatiable melody, and touching sentiment all make this song a powerful force. Uncover the meaning behind the song, below.
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Behind the Meaning of “What Hurts The Most” by Rascal Flatts
I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house
That don’t bother me
I can take a few tears now and then, and just let ’em out
“What Hurts The Most” was written by Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson. Steele provided the lyrical content for the song. According to him, the song was originally intended to have a more familial theme.
“The song was originally inspired by losing my father,” Songwriter Jeffery Steele once said. “But I ended up changing the meaning and I made it more of a love song, to be more universal.”
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I’m not afraid to cry every once in a while even though
Going on with you gone still upsets me
There are days every now and again
I pretend I’m okay
But that’s not what gets me
Steele’s pursuit in making the song more universal certainly succeeded. Anyone who listens to this song will be able to relate it to their life in one way or another. Though it has obvious connotations to romantic love, it could be widely applicable.
What hurts the most
Was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could’ve been
And not seeing that love in you
Is what I was trying to do
Gary LeVox’s vocals add even more emotion to this poignant song. Revisit this Rascal Flatts hit, below.
Photo by SGranitz/WireImage
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