Better Man (Better Man)

About

Better Man serves as the thematic centrepiece of Better Man, both musically and narratively. Originally released in 2000 on Sing When You’re Winning, it was rearranged for the film by Dan Romer and Jacob Collier, transforming the gentle acoustic ballad into a sweeping orchestral finale. The film version accompanies Robbie’s journey towards reconciliation and redemption, appearing as he seeks sobriety and emotional peace after years of self-destruction.

The new arrangement retains the intimacy of the original but enriches it with layers of strings, brass and choral harmony. Romer’s cinematic vision builds gradually, lifting the melody toward a key change that mirrors the film’s moment of hope and renewal. Williams’s vocal, taken from the XXV sessions, carries a quiet conviction, while the orchestration amplifies the lyric’s humility and grace. The result is both intimate and monumental—a reflection of a man coming to terms with himself.

In the film’s closing act, Better Man underscores a montage of healing and reconnection: Williams’s character entering rehab, mending friendships and performing alongside his father at the Royal Albert Hall. The song’s lyric—“As my soul heals the shame, I will grow through this pain”—takes on new resonance, framed not as self-pity but as hard-won wisdom.

“I’ve become the better man that I was hoping to be. The song feels different now—it’s more about who I am than who I wanted to be.”Robbie Williams

Redemptive and deeply personal, Better Man closes Better Man with serenity and gratitude. Its orchestral arrangement elevates the song into a statement of forgiveness and growth, the perfect resolution to the film’s emotional journey.