I move on like a sinner's prayer
Letting go like a levee breaks
Walk away as if I don't care
Learn to shoulder my mistakes
I'm built to fade like your favorite song
I get reckless when there's no need
Laugh as your stories ramble on
Break my heart but it won't bleed
My only friends are pirates, it's just who I am
I'm better as a memory than as your man

I'm never sure when the truth won't do
I'm pretty good on a lonely night
I move on the way a storm blows through
I never stay, but then again, I might
I struggle sometimes to find the words
Always sure until I doubt
Walk a line until it blurs
Build the walls too high to climb out
I'm honest to a fault, it's just who I am
I'm better as a memory than as your man

I see you lean in, you're bound to fall
I don't wanna be that mistake
I'm just a dreamer, nothing more
You should know it before it gets too late

'Cause good-bye's are like a roulette wheel
You never know where they're gonna land
First you're spinning, then you're standing still
Left holding a losing hand
One day you're gonna find someone
Right away, you'll know it's true
That all of your seeking's done
Was just a part of the passing through
Right there in that moment
You'll finally understand
That I was better as a memory than as your man
Better as a memory than as your man


Lyrics submitted by Carries_Reddest_Fan

Better As A Memory Lyrics as written by Scooter Carusoe Lady Goodman

Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.

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Better As A Memory song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This is a brutally honest song. So many times, we hold onto relationships because basically we don't have the guts to end it. He's saying, Im going to be completely honest with you, I love you but my heart is divided. I can continue to try and ignore it, but eventually it will break your heart. So get out now before that happens. I believe Kenny wants to but can't sacrifice the life he has to share it with someone else.

    jj9999on November 30, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    It's not a break up better as a memory thing. It's that he knows she's falling in love with him but he can't return the love like she wants. He's not built like that. He can't feel it even if he wanted to. He doesn't want to hurt her but he knows he will if she falls so he's letting her go and trying to make her understand she'll be better off.

    L07sarahon August 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Everytime i hear it it makes me cry. My ex was a wounderful guy but he left me and i always felt like i was better off as his memory because i didnt want him to regret me. I didnt want to be a mistake.

    NavyNiece1109on May 31, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    By far one of Kenny's greatest songs, both vocally and lyrically. He's saying that in the end, no matter how much it's hurting her right now, he is not the right guy for her. Throughout the song he lists off his qualities, stating that who he is just isn't the right fit for her. He sees her starting to fall in love with him, he can tell that it would be an unrequited love, so he's ending it now in attempt to save her from further pain.

    Haunting, beautiful song.

    mdhmusic24on August 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is pretty self-explanatory, but for some unknown reason, I really like it. It's like it was written for me, but in a different life. I mean, the song is not me, but it feels like it should be. I don't know how else to explain it.

    Gemanon October 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "My only friends are pirates, that's just who I am."

    What a line. Excellent.

    CriticalThinkeron January 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    GREAT SONG im not much for Kenny Chesney, but he really did well with this song. he just has it all to true with the lyrics.

    ratfink1331on April 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just love this song.

    jumpy73on April 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    reminds me of my ex.i loved him soo much.but then after we were over,he was just better as a memory.

    Countrychick14on May 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about a guy lets call him "Nick" for arguements sake and he loves a girl and she loves him but he really doesnt know what he wants and is still finding out who he is. He's somewhat of a loner but he's happy with it because it works for him, and she accepted him that way because he's honest to a fault.

    He needs to let her go so she can be happy... "I see you leaning, you're bound to fall, I don't want to be that mistake"

    He doesnt want to break her heart anymore because he know he will. So he let's her go and it hurts her but he knows in the long run she's going to find a man that loves her the way she deserves cause she's probably really hot!

    So below are the verses where he says trust me pretty much someday you'll thank me for letting you go...

    But one day you're gonna find someone, And right away you'll know it's true That all of your seeking's done It was just a part of the passing through

    Right there in that moment You'll finally understand That I was better as a memory than as your man... Better as a memory than as your man

    So she met a great guy amazing in fact and she sees what he was saying finally but she always will love him.

    So that's the story. Nicks dumb but hey whats a girl to do ya know? He's probably some mad skill guitar player musician that loves his guitar more than any really hot girl. What an idiot! P.S- She wants Joint Custody of his dog. P.P.S- She will never forget this boy, and kept a plank for that pirate man on her bridge. The End. But not really.

    DumbBroadon June 16, 2008   Link

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