Never Had It So Good Explained

Never Had It So Good
Type:single
Artist:Mary Chapin Carpenter
Album:State of the Heart
B-Side:Other Streets and Other Towns
Released:September 2, 1989
Genre:Country
Length:4:05
Label:Columbia
Producer:Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Jennings
Prev Title:How Do
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Quittin' Time
Next Year:1990

"Never Had It So Good" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in September 1989 as the second single from the album State of the Heart. The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1] Carpenter wrote and produced the song with John Jennings.

Content

The song is about a relationship with Carpenter's ex-boyfriend at the time, telling him that he "never had it so good" now that he is in another relationship. Carpenter said of the song, "when I wrote it, I had no idea it would wind up on the radio. Neither did he."[2]

Critical reception

An uncredited review in Cashbox was favorable toward the song, stating that "This cut brings out Carpenter’s distinct vocals like never before and lets us know just how beautifully she can handle a tune guaranteed to conquer radio airplay. 'Never Had It So Good'[...]expresses the true contentment within a relationship—and rising star Carpenter has never sounded so good."[3]

Chart performance

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 69.
  2. News: New faces strut their stuff at radio show . . March 5, 1990 . December 12, 2018 . Thomas Goldsmith . 1E, 6E.
  3. Single releases . Cash Box . 23 . August 26, 1989.
  4. Web site: RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989. RPM. December 23, 1989. August 28, 2013.