Released November 23, 1992 Genre Country Label Curb | Format CD Single Length 3:20 Writer(s) Mac McAnally | |
"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 (now Hot Country Songs) chart, in addition to being a minor AC hit, peaking at 42 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
Contents
Content
The song opens with the story with a wife having an affair, and her husband catching her in the act. Instead of getting angry at her, he blames himself for being absent and neglectful and asks her "Don't you rub it in too hard that I've been wrong."
They argue, and the wife begins to admit her own guilt in the failing marriage -- "There's some things you refuse to see; But I guess sometimes so do I." She takes account of the family they made together, and sees how much she stands to lose by cheating on the marriage.
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.
Critical reception
Larry Flick, 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
Mac McAnally 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 U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 28, 1992.