Brantley Gilbert went to Nashville as a songwriter, where he signed to Warner Chappell Publishing. He continued performing at local venues. In 2009, he released his debut album, A Modern Day Prodigal Son, under independent label Average Joes Entertainment. He followed with Halfway to Heaven in 2010.
In 2011, he signed with Valory Music Co., a division of Big Machine Records, who released a deluxe edition of Halfway to Heaven. The album was produced by Dann Huff. Its first two singles, "Country Must Be Country Wide" and "You Don't Know Her Like I Do", both went to #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. After them, "Kick It in the Sticks" peaked at #34, and "More Than Miles" at #7 on Country Airplay. He won the ACM New Male Artist award in 2013.
Gilbert's second Valory album (third overall), Just as I Am, was released in May 2014. Its lead single, "Bottoms Up," also reached #1. The second single, "Small Town Throwdown," featured guest vocals from labelmates Thomas Rhett and Justin Moore. The third single, "One Hell of an Amen," became Brantley's fourth #1 hit in 2015. The album's fourth single was "Stone Cold Sober," released with the album's platinum edition.
Ahead of his fourth album, The Devil Don't Sleep, Gilbert released the single "The Weekend" as the album's leadoff single. Also included on the album is "The Ones That Like Me."
A deluxe edition of The Devil Don't Sleep includes ten bonus tracks: five demos, and five tracks cut from a live performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
In December 2018, Gilbert released a duet with Lindsay Ell, "What Happens in a Small Town", as the leadoff single to his upcoming fifth studio album, Fire & Brimstone. The album was released in October 2019. "Fire’t Up" was released as the second single off the album.
In June 2020, Gilbert released the single "Hard Days." The song was later included on a deluxe edition of Fire & Brimstone.
In June 2021, Gilbert released the single "The Worst Country Song of All Time", featuring Hardy and Toby Keith, and followed it up with the promotional single "Gone But Not Forgotten" in September 2021. In March 2022, Gilbert and Jason Aldean released another promotional single "Rolex® on a Redneck".
Gilbert released his sixth studio album So Help Me God on November 10, 2022 and announced "Heaven by Then", featuring Blake Shelton and Vince Gill, as the album's second official single.
You Don't Know Her Like I Do
Brantley Gilbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's good to know somebody cares
Yeah she's gone, but I don't feel like talkin'
It might be just too much to bear
To hear somebody say it stops hurtin'
Or to hear somebody say she ain't worth it
'Cause you don't know her like I do
And you don't know what we've been through
Yeah, that girl's my best friend
And there's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I got to lose
You don't know her like I do
I can't forget, I'm drowning in these memories
It fills my soul with all the little things
And I can't cope, it's like a death inside the family
It's like she stole my way to breathe
So don't try to tell me I'll stop hurting
And don't try to tell me she ain't worth it
'Cause you don't know her like I do
You'll never understand
And you don't know what we've been through
But that girl's my best friend
And there's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I got to lose
You don't know her like I do, oh
Like I do
Oh, you don't know her like I do
You'll never understand
And you don't know what we've been through
That girl's my best friend
And there's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I got to lose
No, you'll never know how much I got to lose
You don't know her like I do, not like I do
Not like I do (not like I do), mm
Never understand (never understand)
That girl's my best friend
That girl's my best friend
That girl's my best friend
The song "You Don't Know Her Like I Do" by Brantley Gilbert tells the story of a man grieving the loss of a woman he loved deeply. He receives a call from an old friend who wants to offer comfort, but the man doesn't feel like talking. He believes that no one can truly understand the bond he shared with the woman who was his best friend and lover. He is drowning in memories and feels like he can't breathe without her. He feels like a part of him has died along with her, and no one can offer him solace.
The chorus is the most powerful part of the song, as it lays bare the singer's pain and frustration. He sings, "You don't know her like I do/You'll never understand/And you don't know what we've been through/That girl's my best friend/And there's no way you're gonna help me/She's the only one who can/No, you don't know how much I got to lose/You don't know her like I do." He is essentially telling his friend that he can't help him, because he doesn't know her like he does. He is the only one who truly knows how much he has lost, and he feels that no one can offer him the comfort he needs.
The song is a poignant reminder of the power of love and the pain of loss. It is a powerful testament to the fact that when we lose someone we love, no one else can truly understand the depth of our grief.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey old friend, thanks for callin'
I appreciate you reaching out to me.
It's good to know somebody cares
Your concern is comforting to me.
Yeah she's gone, but I don't feel like talkin'
I don't want to discuss what happened.
It might be just too much to bear
Talking about it might be too painful for me right now.
To hear somebody say it stops hurtin'
I don't want to hear anyone say that time heals all wounds.
Or to hear somebody say she ain't worth it
I don't want to hear anyone say that she wasn't worth the pain.
'Cause you don't know her like I do
You can't understand her like I can.
You'll never understand
It's impossible for you to fully comprehend.
And you don't know what we've been through
You don't know the experiences we shared together.
Yeah, that girl's my best friend
She was my closest companion.
And there's no way you're gonna help me
I don't think anyone can support me in the way I need right now.
She's the only one who can
Only she can make me feel better.
No, you don't know how much I got to lose
You don't realize how significant her absence is for me.
I can't forget, I'm drowning in these memories
I can't escape these thoughts and emotions about her.
It fills my soul with all the little things
Every small detail reminds me of her.
And I can't cope, it's like a death inside the family
Her absence feels like a major, life-changing loss for me.
It's like she stole my way to breathe
I feel suffocated without her.
So don't try to tell me I'll stop hurting
I don't want anyone to give me false hope about the pain subsiding soon.
And don't try to tell me she ain't worth it
I don't want anyone to belittle the significance she had in my life.
Not like I do (not like I do), mm
No one knows her like I do.
Never understand (never understand)
No one can fully comprehend.
That girl's my best friend
She was my closest confidant.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brantley Keith Gilbert, James E. Mccormick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucgault6850
Hey old friend, thanks for callin'
It's good to know somebody cares
Yeah she's gone, but I don't feel like talkin'
It might be just too much to bear
To hear somebody say it stops hurting
Or to hear somebody say she ain't worth it
'Cause you don't know her like I do
You'll never understand
You don't know we've been through
That girl's my best friend
And there's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I've got to lose
You don't know her like I do
I can't forget, I'm drowning in these memories
It fills my soul with all the little things
And I can't cope, it's like a death inside the family
It's like she stole my way to breathe
So don't try to tell me I'll stop hurting
And don't try to tell me she ain't worth it
Cause you don't know her like I do
You'll never understand
You don't know we've been through
That girl's my best friend
And there's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I've got to lose
You don't know her like I do
You don't know her like I do
You'll never understand
You don't know we've been through
That girl's my best friend
There's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I've got to lose
No, you'll never know how much I've got to lose
You don't know her like I do
Not like I do
Never understand
That girl's my best friend
That girl's my best friend
That girl's my best friend.
@juliesabo1385
seen Brantley Gilbert in concert singing this song and at time my best friend looked at me and I said I hope make sum one feel this way sum day. well he left state and he's been back now for a couple week 's and he gets down on his knees and says no one will ever know u like I do. girl your my best friend and I ain't never losing u again. with a ring in hand he ask me to marry him . of course I said yes . I'll never lose my best friend again . love u vince.
@donnaj69
❤😢❤❤
@gabbydavis6349
Julie Sabo update?
@angelaorr4804
Congratulations so cute and sweet. Glad for a happy ending.
@bryanhamilton3256
Well my wife is gone again she has a few problems mentally but after leaving 70 times in a 10year marriage it takes it's toll on a loyal honest man and even though she always comes back to me I'm about to give up. I have been the Rock in this and I have loved her so much for so long that I don't know how to stop. Giving up has not been a option because you don't know her like I do and she is my best friend. Or at least I am her best friend and soulmate because I chose to be. I love you 💋 please come home before it's too late please! I miss the love of my life and I pray you are safe God bless you and come back home please. I love you Vicki 💋 Goodnight 💋💕💖💋💘
@paulinekeys6203
W22`222`²2#PL
@dwightevans-dy3yk
My mother was my best friend. She died a while ago, and my dad 4 years later. 😢 After they died, all I was looking for was somebody to give me solace. But all I got was "get over it", "tough shit", "grow the fuck up", etc. To this day very few people give a shit. You don't have to know somebody just to comfort them! Seriously!
@LuciusYano
sorry for your loss the hardest part of life is letting go but we wish them here with us they’re somewhere better than here and we all reconnect in death as we did in life
@kimberlysmith6653
In 2012 my girlfriend left me and I played this song over and over. In 2013 that girl became my wife. On December 31, 2016 my wife was killed in a car accident and buried on my 35th birthday. She left me again in a different way and this song took on a whole New meaning. I guess it'll always be our song.
@Alethiometer
Damn, I been where you are but I'm 56 now it been a couple decades and it doesn't get better, it never eases up, that loss is always there, I don't think you get more than one soul mate I use to hope, after a while you start to live in the only place you can be together...your dreams, I pray for the nights so we can be together again. I know others might have told you something different, but it's what your words said, after reading them I knew at least someone had to tell you, I think you already knew :) At least you got a shoulder if you need