Zac Brown Band have returned to one of their main strengths in their new song, "Leaving Love Behind." The Grammy-winning superstars focus on melody and raw emotion for the new lost-love song from their upcoming album, The Owl.

"Leaving Love Behind" begins with a very uncluttered feel, featuring Zac Brown's voice over a simple piano chord figure as he reminisces about a love that's now gone. As the song progresses, a string arrangement begins to build along with harmony vocals from the group, adding some stirring dynamics to the song without overpowering its simple, but powerful message.

"I believe, yes I do / The hardest part is always leaving love behind / I believe, yes I do / That everything we lose / Will be a gift in time / But the hardest part is leaving love behind," they sing in the chorus.

The song relies largely on the chord structure, melody and a strong vocal performance from Brown and the entire group, calling to mind past ZBB classics including "Colder Weather." Brown imbues the lyrics with a deep sense of longing, and it's hard not to imagine that he's drawing on his own recent divorce to deliver a very raw and honest performance.

The song is the first taste fans have had of Zac Brown Band's upcoming sixth studio album, The Owl, which is set for release on Sept. 20. The album features all-star collaborations with artists from across the musical spectrum, including Skrillex, Andrew Watt, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Max Martin, Benny Blanco, Ryan Tedder and more. Clay Cook, Coy Bowles, Jimmy de Martini, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Zac Brown co-wrote "Leaving Love Behind." The Hanseroths are best known for their work with Brandi Carlile.

Did You Know? Zac Brown Band moonlight as an EDM band called Sir Rosevelt.

Zac Brown Band's "Leaving Love Behind" Lyrics:

Although the years have changed now and we go by different names / I remember the sound of our roof in the rain / And my mind goes back in time to a place so far gone / Where the love we left behind us was still new

We were listening to the record on the end of your bed / Not giving thought to where it was all going / And I wished right then and there so badly I could read your mind / Just so I could know the things that you were knowing

Chorus:
I believe, yes I do / The hardest part is always leaving love behind / I believe, yes I do / That everything we lose / Will be a gift in time / But the hardest part is leaving love behind

When it was time to say goodbye those words came down like stones / I admit for so long after it was hard to feel at home / We would hear the highway’s song shifting down in the night / I was grateful that the echoes broke the quiet

Repeat Chorus

The sun fades on me now and I miss you like words can’t know / And I missed my shot at dying young a long time ago / It’s just a lesson learned in love / It’s not angry it’s not sad / Sometimes you have to lose something to know what you have

Repeat Chorus

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