Song Information
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Title: Get Along
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Artist: Kenny Chesney
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Writers: Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne
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Album: Songs for the Saints
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Release Date: April 6, 2018
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Genre: Country
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Label: Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville
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Chart Performance:
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Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Country Airplay
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Top 40 on Billboard Hot 100
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Notable Performance: Premiered live at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2018.
“Get Along” was the lead single from Songs for the Saints, an album recorded after Hurricane Irma devastated Kenny Chesney’s home in the Virgin Islands. The song resonated with fans as a call for unity and kindness, especially in times of crisis.
Song Meaning and Message
“Get Along” is a feel-good, mid-tempo anthem built around a simple yet profound message: life is too short for division, so let’s try to understand, forgive, and live harmoniously. With lyrics like “Get along on down the road / We’ve got a long, long way to go,” Chesney urges listeners to focus less on petty differences and more on shared humanity.
The verses describe everyday people — a preacher, a bartender, a child asking questions — each offering a unique view of life’s complexities. But the chorus boils everything down to one universal truth: despite all our differences, we’re all just trying to make it through. There’s a spiritual tone without being preachy, and the melody reinforces a sense of warmth and optimism.
The production is straightforward, allowing the lyrics and message to take center stage. It feels like a conversation with a wise old friend reminding you of what truly matters.
Explaining the Song’s Deeper Question: “Why Can’t We Just Get Along?”
At its core, “Get Along” addresses a timeless and pressing question: Why is it so hard for people to live peacefully together? The song doesn’t try to solve this, but instead highlights how simple acts — listening, forgiving, helping — can ripple into something bigger. It recognizes that people come from different backgrounds and beliefs, but insists that this shouldn’t be a barrier to kindness.
This message gained special relevance during the time of its release. America in 2018 was polarized politically and socially. Natural disasters, including Hurricane Irma, had left communities physically and emotionally damaged. For Chesney — who lost his island home — this wasn’t just a musical sentiment, but a personal philosophy.
The song became a rallying cry, not in anger, but in hope. By choosing empathy over argument, and generosity over judgment, we can create a life that’s not just survivable — but meaningful. “Get Along” is not about pretending differences don’t exist. It’s about choosing to rise above them, one human connection at a time.