I remember sitting in a dimly lit living room when The Great American Bar Scene first dropped on July 4, 2024. Most people were out watching fireworks, but a specific subset of us—the ones who feel like we’ve lived ten lives by age twenty-five—were huddled over headphones. Track thirteen, "Better Days," featuring John Mayer, felt like the exhale we didn't know we were holding.
It’s a song about the exhausting work of being okay. Honestly, Zach Bryan has built a career on being the patron saint of the "unwell but trying," and this track is the peak of that mountain.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Better Days
A lot of critics and casual listeners tend to lump this song into the "uplifting country-folk" bin. They hear the title and think it’s just another "hang in there" anthem. But if you actually listen to the lyrics, it’s much more unstable than that. Zach literally sings, "I’ll pray these better unstable days, they stay awhile." He isn't claiming he’s cured. He's saying he's in a season where the house isn't currently on fire, and he's terrified of when the next match will strike.
The song isn't about reaching a destination of happiness. It's about the uncomfortable transition of moving away from a life defined by "defensive anger." If you grew up in a house where things were loud, or if you’ve spent years being the "hateful" version of yourself to survive, you know that peace feels like a threat. Zach captures that specific paranoia perfectly.
The John Mayer Connection
The collaboration itself was a long time coming. Zach had been a vocal fan of Mayer for years, famously tweeting back in 2022 that seeing Mayer at Madison Square Garden was a "holy shit" moment. When they finally debuted the song live at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in June 2024, the energy was electric.
Mayer doesn't just show up for a paycheck here. He produced the track alongside Zach, Chris Braun, and Scott Zhang. His guitar work is subtle at first, almost shy, but it builds into this warm, atmospheric presence that mirrors the song's themes of growing confidence.
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The Lyrics That Actually Matter
There are a few lines in "Better Days" that cut deeper than the rest. Zach is incredibly open about his childhood here, mentioning, "I wasn't loved well as a younger child." It’s a blunt, heartbreaking admission.
- The "Back Forty" Metaphor: He mentions a fire burning in the "back forty." For those not from rural areas, the back forty refers to the back 40 acres of a farm. It’s the part of yourself you don't show everyone—the private, burning resentment that he’s trying to extinguish.
- Life as a Boat: The recurring image of life coming in "waves" is classic Zach Bryan. It’s a reminder that both the highs and the lows are temporary.
- The Streetlight Kiss: This imagery contrasts the internal struggle with the simple, beautiful reality of his current life. It’s the realization that while he’s "still finding out who the hell I am," there is someone there willing to wait for the answer.
Why the Production is "Groovy"
Musically, this is arguably the "grooviest" thing Zach has ever put out. It’s got a pulse that some of his more stripped-back, acoustic tracks lack. Steve Clark’s drums and Zephyr Avalon’s bass give it a foundation that feels almost like 70s folk-rock.
It doesn't feel like a dusty cabin recording; it feels like a studio session where the windows were open.
How to Apply the Message to Your Own Life
If you’re listening to this song on repeat because you’re in a "bad hand" phase of life, there’s actually some grounded wisdom in the track.
- Stop Wasting It Away: Zach repeats that he's tired of wasting it all away. This usually refers to the time spent ruminating on past mistakes. The song suggests that the "better days" aren't in the future—they are the moments you decide to be present.
- Acknowledge the Cycle: Understand that "unstable" is okay. You don't have to be perfectly fine to be in a better place than you were.
- Listen to the Sounds: One of the most practical pieces of advice in the lyrics is to "listen to the sounds" instead of getting angry. It’s a mindfulness technique, basically. If you’re spiraling, ground yourself in the sensory world.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Perspective
Now that we're into 2026, we’ve seen Zach’s sound evolve even further with releases like With Heaven On Top. Critics are still debating if he’s "overproduced" or just growing up. But "Better Days" remains a pivotal moment in his discography because it was the first time he truly invited us into the process of his healing, rather than just his hurting.
The song hasn't lost its edge. It still feels like a lifeline for anyone who has ever felt like their own worst enemy.
To get the most out of the track, listen to the live versions from the Quittin' Time Tour. There's a raw energy in the way Zach belts the "Lord, hot damn" line that doesn't quite translate to the studio version. It's the sound of a man who is genuinely surprised he made it this far.
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Next Steps for the Listener:
- Listen to "Better Days" back-to-back with "28" to hear the narrative arc of the album.
- Check out the credits on the vinyl release to see how many people it actually took to craft that "raw" sound.
- Practice the "listen to the sounds" technique the next time you feel that "back forty" fire starting to burn.