«That’s the Way Love Goes’ is a song written by Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. Shafer and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Rodriguez. It was released in December 1973 as the second single from the album All I Ever Meant to Do Was Sing. The song was Rodriguez’s fourth hit on the U.S. country chart and third number one in a row. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of 14 weeks on the chart.
Merle Haggard released the song in November 1983 as the second and title track from his album That’s the Way Love Goes. Haggard’s version was his 30th number one single. His version spent 21 weeks on the charts and won him that year’s Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance — Male. He charted a second rendition of the song in 1999 as a duet with Jewel, taking this version to #56 on the country charts.
From the album All I Ever Meant to Do Was Sing
B-side «I Really Don’t Want to Know»
Released December 1973
Genre Country
Label Mercury
Songwriter(s) Lefty Frizzell Sanger D. Shafer
Producer(s) Jerry Kennedy