The lyrics to this song are intentionally vague and universal in their meaning, and the listener is left to guess whether they refer to a romance or an actual war. Speaking to Associated Press's Ryan Pearson, Toby Gad said that though Clarkson sings almost exclusively about matters of the heart, after several days of revising lyrics alongside for Stronger, he couldn't recall her ever recounting her own personal experiences to him. "That's the underlying theme for her, to vent emotions that we all feel in our relationships," the songwriter said.
This song was co-written and produced by New York-based Toby Gad, the knob-twiddler behind hits for Beyoncé, The Veronicas and Colbie Caillat. The other co-writer was Barbadian British singer-songwriter Livvi Franc, whose other credits include "Rain On Me" by Cheryl Cole and "Trouble For Me" by Britney Spears.
The lyrics to this song are intentionally vague and universal in their meaning, and the listener is left to guess whether they refer to a romance or an actual war. Speaking to Associated Press's Ryan Pearson, Toby Gad said that though Clarkson sings almost exclusively about matters of the heart, after several days of revising lyrics alongside for Stronger, he couldn't recall her ever recounting her own personal experiences to him. "That's the underlying theme for her, to vent emotions that we all feel in our relationships," the songwriter said.