It's becoming clear that the songs Blake Shelton chose for his new album 'Red River Blue' are very, very personal to him. With his new single 'God Gave Me You,' Shelton isn't just singing to a faceless woman from his past. He's pleading with new-wife/then-girlfriend Miranda Lambert. The song worked to get him out of a jam, and works as a powerful follow-up to the multi-week number one hit 'Honey Bee.'

"I've been a walking heartache / I've made a mess of me / The person that I've been lately / Ain't who I wanna be," Shelton sings to begin the song. He tells The Boot he heard the song at just the right moment in his life. "It's no secret, Miranda and I have had our ups and downs over the years and this was definitely at a low point at our relationship. But I heard that song come on the radio ... and I almost had to pull the truck over. It was one of those moments for me where I felt like I was hearing that song at that moment for a reason."

Christian rocker Dave Barnes originally recorded the song in 2010. The chorus goes, "'Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs / God gave me you for the days of doubt / And for when I think I lost my way / There are no words here left to say, it's true / God gave me you."

It's difficult to find something to criticize here, although 'God Gave Me You' isn't as original lyrically as some others Shelton has chosen on past albums. His vocal performance is top-notch and there's no denying he pours every last drop of his emotion into the lyric. Toward the end, he's practically begging for reconciliation; yes, this is the same man who puffs out his chest as well as anyone in interviews and on Twitter.

"On my own I'm only / Half of what I could be / I can't do without you / We are stitched together / And what love has tethered / I pray we never undo," he sings during the bridge. There's little doubt this song will also find its way to the top of the charts.

4.5 Stars
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Preview Blake Shelton's New Single 'God Gave Me You'

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