The Innocent Years was a collection of songs that discussed Mattea's feelings associated with her father's failing health.

The third track, "Why Can't We", reflected on people of Mattea's parents' generation and questioned what was learned from their lives.

The ninth track, "That's the Deal", describes how a husband takes of her ailing wife who suffered a stroke.

The album's bonus track, "BFD", describes a man who finds a new partner that provides him with the love and respect he needed.

[3] Finding that the song did not fit with the project's theme, Mattea chose to make it a "bonus track".

[1] Eli Messinger of Country Standard Time wrote that, "Though the smooth sound and heart-on-her-sleeve lyrics may not be for the country roots fan (nor the cynically-minded, for that matter), Mattea's superb voice and mature readings are clearly the work of an accomplished artist chasing her musical muse.

"[7] Dave McKenna of The Washington Post commented, "Kathy Mattea provides a pretty comprehensive primer on the downside of contemporary country with her new CD, The Innocent Years.

[2] It spent nine weeks on America's Billboard Top Country Albums chart, peaking at number 35 on June 3, 2000.