Why (Rascal Flatts song)

"Why"
Song

"Why" is the title of a song recorded by American country band Rascal Flatts. It is the third single from their sixth studio album, Unstoppable. It was released to radio stations on September 29, 2009 and debuted at #44 on the U.S. Billboard US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 10, 2009. It was written by Rob Mathes and Allen Shamblin.

Content

The song is a slow-tempo song, sung from the perspective of a man whose close friend has committed suicide. It was a tough song for the trio to cut as all three members of the band have known someone close to them that committed suicide. The song makes particular use of metaphors, comparing life to a song and the world as a stage, with the narrator singing, in the chorus:

Oh why that’s what I keep asking
Was there anything I could have said or done?
Oh I had no clue you were masking
A troubled soul, God only knows
What went wrong
and why you’d leave the stage in the middle of a song

In the final chorus of the song, the narrator sings:

Oh why there’s no comprehending
And who am I to try to judge or explain
Oh but I do have one burning question
Who told you life wasn’t worth the fight?
They were wrong
They lied
And now you’re gone
And we cry

Reception

Roughstock gave the song a favorable review. Ten Pound Hammer of the website says of the song, “The lyrics alone are beautiful, with the narrator asking just why a special person in his life had to commit suicide. Perhaps the best line is "Why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song" — a very striking metaphor.” The song also received special mention in Matt Bjorke original review of the Unstoppable album, where he wrote, “for this album, "Why" the trio has found what might be their best album-ending track since their self-titled debut's "I'm Moving On." Levox has NEVER sounded better vocally and sings the questioning lyrics that make up the Allen Shamblin and Rob Mathes song. The song finds a guy asking why a friend would choose to 'leave the stage in the middle of the song.’” Both Bjorke and Ten Pound Hammer noted the possibility and worthiness of the song receiving a “Song of the Year” award. CM Wilcox of The 9513 gave a thumbs-down, saying "Rascal Flatts, who have made a career of reveling in just such melodrama, have at long last discovered a song that actually seems to justify their usual overdone style" but adding that the song's "biggest problem" was its length.

Chart performance

Chart (2009)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs	22
Canadian Radio & Records Country Singles	38