Meanwhile (George Strait song)

"Meanwhile"
Song

"Meanwhile" is a song written by Wayland Holyfield and Fred Knoblock, and performed by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in January 1999 as the first single to his album Always Never the Same. It peaked at number 4 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, while it was a number-one hit on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. It also peaked at number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking his first Top 40 hit on that chart.

Content

While enjoying a new relationship, the man can't help but flashing back to his former lover. The use of the word "meanwhile" to signal the shifts in his emotional focus makes the song almost feel like an episodic TV romance with an unresolved lovers' triangle.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "lilting ballad". She goes on to say that "Strait's voice sounds like he's lived every word — the pleasure, the nostalgia, the wistful longing".

Chart positions

"Meanwhile" debuted at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of January 9, 1999.

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)	1
US Billboard Hot 100	38
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)	46
US Country Songs (Billboard)	46