In the golden era of 1970s country music, when storytelling reigned supreme and sincerity mattered more than spectacle, Johnny Rodriguez emerged as one of the genre’s most distinctive and heartfelt voices. Among his many memorable recordings, “That’s The Way Love Goes” stands as one of his most enduring achievements — a gentle, wise, and emotionally honest ballad that captures the fragile, unpredictable rhythm of love itself.
Released in 1974 as the title track of his album That’s The Way Love Goes, the song quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, marking Rodriguez’s second No. 1 hit. But beyond its chart success, the track resonated on a deeper level. It wasn’t just popular — it was personal. Listeners didn’t simply hear the song; they recognized themselves in it.
A Song That Speaks the Truth About Love
At its core, “That’s The Way Love Goes” is built around a simple but powerful truth: love is beautiful, painful, fleeting, and enduring — often all at once. Instead of dramatizing heartbreak or glorifying romance, the song offers something rarer: acceptance.
The lyrics don’t fight love’s unpredictability. They don’t try to explain it away. Instead, they shrug gently, almost tenderly, and say: this is just how it is. Love comes. Love leaves. Sometimes it stays. Sometimes it hurts. That’s the way it goes.
This emotional maturity is part of what made the song stand out. In an era filled with tear-stained ballads and fiery declarations, Rodriguez delivered a quiet reflection — the voice of someone who has lived, loved, lost, and come to peace with all of it.
Johnny Rodriguez: The Perfect Voice for the Message
Johnny Rodriguez had a voice that carried both warmth and worldliness. There was smoothness in his tone, but also a subtle ache — the sound of experience behind every note. His Tex-Mex roots gave his phrasing a unique flavor, setting him apart from many of his Nashville contemporaries. That blend of cultural influence and emotional authenticity made him a compelling interpreter of songs about the heart.
In “That’s The Way Love Goes,” Rodriguez doesn’t oversing. He doesn’t push. Instead, he le_srans into the melody with a relaxed confidence, allowing the story to unfold naturally. His delivery feels conversational, almost as if he’s sitting across from you, sharing a hard-earned piece of life wisdom over coffee.
It’s this understated approach that gives the song its staying power. The emotion isn’t forced — it’s lived in.
Songwriting from Country Royalty
The track was penned by Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shafer, two legendary figures in country songwriting. Frizzell, known for his influential vocal style and poetic phrasing, had a gift for writing songs that sounded both simple and profound. Shafer, meanwhile, was a master craftsman of lyrics that spoke directly to everyday people.
Together, they created a line that feels almost like a proverb: “That’s the way love goes.” It’s the kind of phrase you might hear from a friend trying to comfort you after a breakup — not dismissive, but gently reassuring. It acknowledges the pain while reminding you that you’re not alone, and that this cycle is part of being human.
Their collaboration resulted in a song that doesn’t just tell a story — it expresses a universal emotional reality.
The Sound: Soft, Soulful, and Sincere
Musically, the arrangement is beautifully restrained. Gentle acoustic guitars lay the foundation, while soft pedal steel weaves in and out like a sigh. The rhythm section stays subtle, never distracting from the vocal performance. Every element serves the mood: reflective, calm, and deeply human.
The production doesn’t try to overwhelm the listener. Instead, it creates space — space to think, to remember, to feel. It’s the kind of song that sounds just as fitting playing quietly on a late-night drive as it does drifting through a living room on a rainy afternoon.
This simplicity is part of the song’s brilliance. It trusts the listener. It trusts the emotion. And most importantly, it trusts the truth at the center of the story.
A Career-Defining Moment
By the time this song was released, Johnny Rodriguez was already becoming a major force in country music. As one of the first Hispanic artists to achieve mainstream success in the genre, he helped broaden the image and sound of country during the 1970s. “That’s The Way Love Goes” further cemented his place in the industry, proving he wasn’t just a rising star — he was a storyteller with depth and staying power.
The album of the same name also performed strongly, reinforcing how deeply audiences connected with both the song and Rodriguez’s artistic direction at the time. He wasn’t chasing trends; he was delivering truth.
Why the Song Still Matters Today
Decades later, “That’s The Way Love Goes” remains just as relevant as it was in 1974. Love hasn’t become any less complicated. Hearts still break. People still fall, rise, and fall again. The emotional cycles described in the song are timeless because human nature is timeless.
Modern listeners, even those who didn’t grow up with classic country, can still find comfort in its message. In a world that often demands constant explanations and dramatic reactions, there’s something deeply soothing about a song that simply says: this is part of life.
It reminds us that not every loss needs a villain. Not every goodbye needs a grand speech. Sometimes, love simply runs its course — and accepting that can be its own kind of peace.
A Gentle Classic That Endures
“That’s The Way Love Goes” is not a loud anthem or a flashy showpiece. It’s something more lasting: a quiet companion for anyone who has ever loved and learned. Johnny Rodriguez gave the song a voice full of empathy and grace, turning a simple phrase into a lasting emotional truth.
In the end, the song doesn’t try to fix heartbreak or promise fairy-tale endings. Instead, it offers understanding — and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need most.
Because when it comes to love, in all its beauty and sorrow…
that really is the way it goes.