# Strong Enough (Sheryl Crow song)

"Strong Enough" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow from her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club (1993). It was co-written by Crow and produced by Bill Bottrell, who also co-wrote it. The single was released in November 1994 by A&M Records, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, number three in Australia, and number one in Canada, becoming her second chart-topper there following "All I Wanna Do". In Australia, the song received a double-platinum certification for sales and streams exceeding 140,000 units. Its music video was directed by Martin Bell, and filmed in black-and-white, depicting Crow alone in a large and empty room.
Crow performed the song on her live album Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park alongside the Dixie Chicks. The song was later included on Crow's greatest hits album, The Very Best of Sheryl Crow.

## Background and composition

"Strong Enough" is an acoustic folk-pop song. In live performances, Crow often plays the accordion to it, although this instrument was not featured on the original recording. The song is written in the key of D major with a moderately slow tempo of 79 beats per minute in the unusual $^6$ $_4$ time signature. It follows a chord progression of D–G5–Bm♭6–A, and Crow's vocals span from A$_3$ to B$_4$. Lyrically, the song finds the narrator in a frustrated relationship, looking for solace from her partner, despite the fact that his commitments may not be as true as her own.

## Critical reception

Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "On the heels of her good-time up-tempo number 'All I Wanna Do', Crow comes back with a ballad, which was co-written by David Baerwald, formerly of David & David, along with five other people. And yet, even with all those helping hands, the song is a very straight-forward love song. Simple in arrangement though somewhat lush in melody, the real point is to showcase Crow’s vocal talents—which she has. Though the song may not be as big a hit as her first two singles, it sets Crow up for the long haul and is likely to be an adult/contemporary monster."
Alan Jones from Music Week described 'Strong Enough' as "another pleasing, though less commercial [than 'All I Wanna Do'], song – a lilting, understated folksy piece. Not a huge single, but it will direct further attention to her album, Tuesday Night Music Club." Music & Media also described the track as 'folky', stating that the Tuesday Night Music Club CD is "a bottomless pit of beauties." Emma Cochrane from Smash Hits gave 'Strong Enough' two out of five, naming it "a gentle, acoustic number from Miss Crow to follow up her surprisingly huge hit, 'All I Wanna Do'. This is a pleasant ditty, sung from the heart, but it's hardly a stand-out single."

## Music video

A simple black-and-white music video for "Strong Enough" was directed by Martin Bell. It features Crow in a largely empty room alternatively singing the song into a microphone and pacing anxiously through the room.

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 140,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| United States | November 15, 1994 | 7-inch vinylCDcassette | A&M |
| Japan | January 25, 1995 | Mini-CD | A&M |
| United Kingdom | January 30, 1995 | 7-inch vinylCDcassette | A&M |

## Covers and interpolations

Travis Tritt wrote and released an answer song called "Strong Enough to Be Your Man" in 2002.