A Guy with a Girl

This celebration of being overshadowed by a new girlfriend that "everybody wants to know" was written by Ashley Gorley ("That's My Kind of Night," "T-Shirt") and Bryan Simpson ("Better Than I Used to Be," "Yeah"). Both songwriters are married and the song was inspired by the reaction they often get when they venture out with their wives. "When I enter into a room, she thinks everybody wants to talk to me," Simpson told Billboard magazine. "And I'm like, 'No, no, no. The truth is when they take a look at you, I'm just a guy standing there with a girl. They want to know who you are. They're intrigued by you.'"

At the time Gorley and Simpson wrote the song, Shelton was married to Miranda Lambert and the lyrics about the guy feeling undeserving of his girl's love seemed to suit his situation. They began to think of him as a potential vocalist and sent him their demo. Shelton instinctively put it on hold. "It kind of had the feel of 'Honey Bee' for me," he recalled. "I just thought it was a cool song, and I'd consider it, think about it."

As Shelton's split with Lambert and his new relationship with Gwen Stefani unfolded, the lyrics more and more reflected his situation. Shelton decided to record the good natured love song for If I'm Honest, an album where he touches on both the pain of a breakup and the happiness of a new relationship. "'A Guy With a Girl' is my life right now," said Shelton. "Out on the farm or touring, [I'm] that guy, and then at the end of the day, when it's time to have a life and go to a party or something, I become the guy that's with Gwen. It's pretty cool."