I'd Be Better Off (In a Pine Box)
Encyclopedia
"I'd Be Better Off" is the title of a song co-written by Johnny MacRae and Steve Clark. It was the debut single of American
country music artist Doug Stone from his self titled debut album. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and #5 on The Canadian RPM Tracks chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award
for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
of Allmusic praised the song by calling it "a towering expression of self-pity that most singers could spend a career trying to top".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music artist Doug Stone from his self titled debut album. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and #5 on The Canadian RPM Tracks chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
Content
In this song, the narrator says how without his lover, he would rather be dead or imprisoned than live without her.Music video
The music video was directed by directing duo Deaton-Flanigen. The video features Stone singing the song in a motel room, with him hitchhiking for a ride. At the end of the video, it shows his former lover getting married to another man. As Stone walks away, the woman takes a glance at him as the limo that she and her new husband is in leaves the church.Critical reception
Brian MansfieldBrian Mansfield
Brian Mansfield is an American writer and journalist. A longtime music writer and critic for USA Today, Mansfield is also the writer/producer of syndicated weekly radio program America's Opry Weekend for American radio network Dial Global Radio Networks and author and co-author of a number of books...
of Allmusic praised the song by calling it "a towering expression of self-pity that most singers could spend a career trying to top".
Chart performance
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 4 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 5 |