One Number Away

A man's struggle to dial an ex-girlfriend before he breaks down.

"One Number Away" is a country ballad co-written and recorded by American singer Luke Combs, released in January 2018 as the third single from his debut studio album, This One's for You. Written alongside Robert Williford, Sammy Mitchell, and Steven Battey, the track was produced by Mitchell with co-production credit to Battey. It captures a man conflicted about breaking down to call his ex-girlfriend. The song reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, marking Combs' third number-one hit overall, while also peaking at number three on Hot Country Songs and number 34 on the Hot 100.

Quick Facts

Artist

Luke Combs

Album

This One's for You

Released

8 January 2018

Genre

Country

Length

3:42

Label

Columbia Nashville

Writer

Luke Combs
Sammy Mitchell
Steven Battey
Robert Williford

Producer

Sammy Mitchell, Steven Battey

Lore & Background

The song centers entirely on a specific moment of emotional paralysis. It depicts a protagonist who is physically close to reconnecting with his past love but remains frozen by the fear of vulnerability. The narrative does not resolve; instead, it lingers in that agonizing space where one phone call could change everything, yet the courage to make it eludes him. This tension defines the song's core, illustrating how a single number stands as the only barrier between isolation and reunion. Sammy Mitchell produced the track, engineering it and performing many instruments, while Steven Battey shared co-production duties. The raw honesty of this conflict helped propel the song to become a massive radio hit.

Reader's Guide

Fans can experience "One Number Away" through its live performances and chart history. Combs promoted the single with appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (recorded October 2, aired November 8, 2017), Megyn Kelly Today (May 25, 2018), and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (July 17, 2018). Commercially, it achieved significant success, earning a 6× Platinum certification from the RIAA in 2025. As of January 2026, it has sold 6,000,000 copies in the US. In Canada, it was certified Platinum by Music Canada on December 14, 2018, denoting 80,000 units sold. The track remains a key entry in Combs' discography, marking his third number-one on the Country Airplay chart and second on the Canada Country chart.

Did You Know?

The music video was created by TA Films and features an ominous cloud hanging over a couple on the verge of reuniting.
The song peaked at number 34 on the Hot 100 after debuting at number 84 in March 2018.