Co-written by her husband, Jon Vezner, and Don Henry, the song is about two lovers, Edwin and Claire. It uses three interpretations of the phrase "where've you been", all spoken by Claire toward Edwin in various situations. In the first verse, she asks him where he has been all her life; in the second, she asks him where he has been after coming home late one night; and in the third, the two are elderly hospital patients: Claire has "lost her memory" of family and friends, and close to death, asks Edwin upon seeing him, "where've you been". Edwin and Claire are based on Vezner's own grandparents, as Vezner claims to have witnessed his grandparents having an encounter similar to the elderly encounter of Edwin and Claire.[2]
The song won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1990. Kathy Mattea was awarded the Grammy award for Best Country Performance, Female for her recording.
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 217.
^Flans, Robyn (2006). The Definitive Collection (CD booklet). Kathy Mattea. Mercury Records. B0007233-02.
^Willow in the Wind (CD insert). Kathy Mattea. Mercury Records. 1989. 836 950-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
