 Clarkson explained that she objected the collaboration through the entire process due to previous bad experiences working with Gottwald, who co-produced "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes" for Clarkson in 2004.Clarkson eventually gave in claiming the label wouldn't put out her record otherwise.Yet, she was unsatisfied with the original version of the song, which she says differed greatly from the final version and included lyrical references to marijuana, so the writers assisted her in making the song more personal to her and "better than it was," according to Clarkson.