The Gentle Giant’s Final Word: Why Settling for Less Was Never an Option
For those of us who came of age with the quiet confidence of Don Williams as the soundtrack to our lives, the very mention of a song like “I’ve Been Loved By The Best” instantly conjures up the comforting weight of experience and deep, abiding devotion. It’s a track that arrived late in his celebrated career but carried the unmistakable gravitas of the man we lovingly knew as the “Gentle Giant” of Country Music. Unlike some flamboyant hits, this song didn’t scream for attention; it simply stated a beautiful, undeniable truth.
“I’ve Been Loved By The Best” was released in September 1989 as the second single from Don Williams’ album, One Good Well. It quickly connected with his massive and dedicated audience, climbing high on the charts and proving that even as the Country landscape shifted around him, Williams’ brand of smooth, heartfelt sincerity remained essential.
Peak Chart Position (US): The single reached Number 4 on the prestigious Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1989, a testament to its widespread appeal and enduring quality.
Peak Chart Position (Canada): It achieved a peak position of Number 11 on the RPM Country Tracks chart.
Album: One Good Well (1989), a late-career gem that reinforced his mastery of the tender ballad.
Songwriters: The song was penned by two Nashville legends: Bob McDill and Paul Harrison, ensuring the lyrical depth and craftsmanship that defined Williams’ best material.
The song’s core meaning is a profound statement of unwavering fidelity and the paralyzing quality of perfection. The narrator, speaking with Williams’ signature soothing baritone, addresses his partner, offering a promise that no matter what happens, no other relationship could ever measure up. It’s a sweet, almost melancholic testament that says, “You raised the bar so high, I am simply ruined for anyone else.” It’s an elevated, mature perspective on love that resonated deeply with older listeners who understood the difference between fleeting infatuation and an elemental, life-altering connection.
The beauty of “I’ve Been Loved By The Best” lies in its unadorned simplicity, a hallmark of both Don Williams’ artistry and the brilliant songwriting of Bob McDill, who provided Williams with so many of his defining hits. McDill was a master of conveying complex emotions in accessible, conversational language. In this track, he and Harrison crafted a lyric that avoids the typical country clichés of revenge or self-pity after a breakup. Instead, it offers a peaceful, almost stoic acceptance:
“I couldn’t love again believe me, no one could please me anyway, And if another ever came along, I’d just turn them down… ‘Cause after all I’ve been loved by the best, I can’t settle now for less.”
This is the reflective tone we recognize from the late 1980s—a moment when Country Music was leaning towards a more polished, contemporary sound, but Don Williams remained its grounded, acoustic heart. His version, co-produced by Williams and Garth Fundis, features the subtle arrangements—the gentle sway of the rhythm, the soft steel guitar—that always allowed his voice and the story to be the focus. It wasn’t about flashy production; it was about the honesty in his tone, a voice that sounded like a friend you could trust implicitly.
For those of us reflecting now, the song is a time capsule, a reminder of the quiet conviction that characterized an entire generation. It’s the assurance that one singular, remarkable love can be enough to sustain a lifetime, even in its absence. You listen to that voice, and you don’t just hear a song; you hear the wisdom of a man who truly understood the weight of a promise.