McGraw's music follows an effective recipe, combining the storytelling lyricism of '70s and '80s country with a sound that draws heavily on rock from the same period. Merle Haggard's "That's the Way Love Goes" anticipates the tender yet matter-of-fact approach McGraw often takes in his own love songs. Steve Miller's "The Joker" gives off the loose, relaxed vibe that resurfaces in many McGraw hits.