Highway Don't Care
Two Lanes of Freedom (Tim McGraw Album) | 2013
"Highway Don't Care" is a song performed by American country music artist Tim McGraw and features Taylor on vocals, as well as Keith Urban on guitar. It was released in March 2013 as the third single from McGraw's first album for Big Machine Records, "Two Lanes of Freedom" (2013). The song was written by Mark Irwin, Josh Kear and Brad and Brett Warren. McGraw and Swift recorded their parts separately.
The song is a mid-tempo ballad where the male narrator is separated from his lover who is driving. Throughout the verses, he tells her what he "bets" she is feeling, when a song comes on her radio (its part sung by Taylor) containing the lines "I can't live without you, baby." He also says that the highway she's driving on doesn't care if she's alone or if she's going home, but he does. Keith Urban plays lead guitar on it.
CHART PERFORMANCE
The single was a great commercial success and has sold over two million copies in the US as of February 2019.
"Highway Don't Care" debuted at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 43 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of February 23, 2013, due to unsolicited airplay seven weeks before being released to radio. It also debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the week of February 23, 2013. It also debuted number 1 on the US Billboard Country Digital Songs chart with 86'000 downloads for the week of February 13, 2013.
CRITICAL RECEPTION
Thom Jurek of Allmusic, in his review of the album, wrote that "the hook is irresistible and McGraw's vocal, paired with the young singer's, is a perfect match." Chuck Dauphin of Roughstock also reviewed the song favorably, saying that "this song flows well, with winning performances from two of the format’s top vocalists." Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song five stars saying that the track is arguably "one of the best collaborations of the decade -- maybe even ever. Each artist brings his or her best effort to the song from McGraw’s 'Two Lanes of Freedom' album. 'Highway Don’t Care’ feels like a special moment from the very first listen, and only becomes more cathartic with time."
Lyrics
Bet your window's rolled down and your hair's pulled back
And I bet you got no idea you're going way too fast
You're trying not to think about what went wrong
Trying not to stop 'til you get where you goin'
You're trying to stay awake so I bet you turn on the radio and the song goes
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby, baby
The highway won't hold you tonight
The highway don't know you're alive
The highway don't care if you're all alone, but I do, I do.
The highway won't dry your tears
The highway don't need you here
The highway don't care if you're coming home, but I do, I do.
I bet you got a dead cell phone in your shotgun seat
Yeah, I bet you're bending God's ear talking 'bout me.
You're trying not to let the first tear fall out
Trying not to think about turning around
You're trying not to get lost in the sound but that song is always on, so you sing along
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
I can't live without you I can't live without you baby, oh baby
The highway won't hold you tonight
The highway don't know you're alive
The highway don't care if you're all alone, but I do, I do.
The highway won't dry your tears
The highway don't need you here
The highway don't care if you're coming home, but I do, I do.
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby, oh baby
The highway don't care
The highway don't care
The highway don't care, but I do, I do.
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, the highway don't care)
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby, oh baby (The highway don't care, but I do, I do)
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, the highway don't care)
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, but I do I do)
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, the highway don't care)
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby, oh baby (The highway don't care, but I do I do)
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
Written by: Mark Irwin, Josh Kear, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
