The Hard Way

"The Hard Way" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in March 1993 as the fourth single from her album Come On Come On. The song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in July 1993. It was nominated at the 36th Grammy Awards for Best Country Song. Background The song became the de facto theme song of the 1993 CBS television special Women of Country, which closed with a performance of the song featuring Carpenter and the rest of the special's all-star cast of female country entertainers. Personnel Mary Chapin Carpenter–acoustic guitar, vocals Jon Caroll–synthesizer Denny Dadmun-Bixby–bass guitar John Jennings–electric guitar and background vocals Matt Rollings–piano Robbie Magruder–drums Indigo Girls (Amy Ray and Emily Saliers) and Shawn Colvin–background vocals Chart performance