"The Way I'm Livin'" was composed by Adam Wright, a Grammy-nominated songwriter, who previously wrote Alan Jackson's "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore.

"[3] In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Womack recalled hearing the song for the first time and her initial reaction: "Real roots music, whether it's country or bluegrass, the blues, even rock, is about hitting a nerve.

"[4] "The Way I'm Livin'" was recorded in sessions held in four different studios, three of which were located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sounds Like Nashville called the song a "scalding psychic meltdown of a lost soul, banging on the rocks and not sure they want any better."

"[7] Jonathan Keefe of Country Universe praised the song's writing and Womack's vocal delivery.