What Song Plays During Arthur’s Final Ride in Red Dead Redemption 2?
The song playing during Arthur Morgan’s famous final ride in Red Dead Redemption 2 is “That’s the Way It Is” by Daniel Lanois.
The recording was written specifically for Rockstar’s 2018 game.
But there’s another song frequently confused with it.
“Unshaken” by D’Angelo.
Both recordings appear during important emotional moments in the story.
Both are associated with Arthur Morgan.
And both became fan favourites because of how effectively they connect with the game’s characters.
However, the famous ride back towards Beaver Hollow is accompanied by “That’s the Way It Is”.
When does the song play?
Near the end of Chapter 6.
Arthur has reached a critical point in his story.
He understands that Dutch van der Linde’s gang is collapsing.
He has also discovered information that changes his understanding of the people around him.
After helping Abigail and Sadie, Arthur returns towards the gang’s camp.
The journey becomes a cinematic sequence.
As he rides, the player hears the song and remembers important moments from Arthur’s life.
The effect is particularly powerful because players have spent so many hours with the character.
Who sings “That’s the Way It Is”?
Daniel Lanois.
The Canadian musician is known both as a recording artist and an influential producer.
His production credits include work with U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and Neil Young.
He also collaborated extensively with Brian Eno.
For Red Dead Redemption 2, Lanois played a central role in producing the vocal soundtrack.
His own performance became one of its most recognisable moments.
Who wrote the song?
Daniel Lanois and Rocco DeLuca.
The recording was created specifically for the game.
Its arrangement combines folk, Americana and atmospheric rock influences.
That musical identity fits the game’s world.
The story takes place during the decline of America’s outlaw era.
The characters are struggling to survive as the country changes around them.
The recording’s reflective atmosphere helps communicate that sense of transition.
What does “That’s the Way It Is” mean?
Acceptance, regret and the consequences of life choices.
The song suggests that people cannot always control what happens to them.
But they can still decide how to respond.
That’s particularly appropriate for Arthur Morgan.
For much of the game, Arthur follows the expectations of his gang.
As the story develops, he begins questioning those decisions.
He becomes more aware of the harm caused by the group’s actions.
The song reflects that emotional transformation.
Why is Arthur’s final ride so emotional?
Because the game allows players to remember their own experiences.
The scene isn’t simply a conventional cinematic sequence.
Players have spent hours making decisions as Arthur.
They may have helped strangers.
Made mistakes.
Developed friendships.
Or behaved selfishly.
The final ride connects those experiences with the character’s journey.
The music encourages reflection rather than excitement.
That’s unusual for a major action game.
The emotional climax is partly about remembering what has already happened.
Does the song change depending on honour?
The game uses different versions of the musical sequence depending on Arthur’s honour level.
The surrounding memories and emotional presentation also vary.
That makes the scene feel connected with the player’s decisions.
Arthur’s experience isn’t completely separate from how the player has chosen to behave.
The music becomes part of that interaction.
It’s a particularly effective example of a soundtrack responding to the structure of a game rather than functioning as a fixed film cue.
Is the final ride song called “Unshaken”?
No.
“Unshaken” is performed by D’Angelo.
It plays during another memorable journey in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The song became strongly associated with Arthur’s story because of its emotional atmosphere.
It’s understandable that players sometimes confuse the two.
Both feature restrained vocals.
Both are reflective.
And both accompany important moments involving travel.
But the final return towards Beaver Hollow is associated with Daniel Lanois’ “That’s the Way It Is”.
Who sings “Unshaken”?
D’Angelo.
The American soul musician became internationally famous through albums such as Brown Sugar, Voodoo and Black Messiah.
His contribution to Red Dead Redemption 2 was created through the collaboration involving Daniel Lanois and other musicians.
The recording combines gospel and soul influences with a restrained arrangement.
It became an important part of the game’s soundtrack.
Why does Red Dead Redemption 2 use so many different musicians?
Because the soundtrack needed to support an enormous fictional world.
Rockstar worked with artists from several musical traditions.
The recordings incorporate country, folk, blues, soul and atmospheric instrumental music.
Contributors include Willie Nelson, Rhiannon Giddens, Josh Homme and D’Angelo.
That mixture gives the game a musical identity extending beyond conventional Western film scores.
It’s particularly effective because the story is about a diverse country experiencing enormous historical change.
Who composed the main score?
Woody Jackson.
He developed the game’s extensive instrumental score.
Daniel Lanois produced the vocal soundtrack.
Those roles are related but different.
Jackson’s music supports exploration, combat and dramatic scenes throughout the game.
The vocal recordings frequently accompany specific emotional moments.
That creates a useful balance between continuous background music and memorable songs.
What album is “That’s the Way It Is” on?
The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2: Original Soundtrack.
The album was released on 12 July 2019.
It includes thirteen recordings featuring artists associated with the game.
A separate album collects material from the instrumental score.
If you’re searching for the specific final-ride song, the vocal soundtrack is the appropriate release.
What genre is “That’s the Way It Is”?
Americana.
Atmospheric folk.
Cinematic singer-songwriter music.
The recording also draws from gospel and roots-music traditions.
Its arrangement is deliberately restrained.
That allows the vocal and emotional message to remain central.
For another example of how game soundtracks can introduce listeners to a wider catalogue, Radar’s EA Sports FC 27 music discovery guide explores a completely different approach to connecting players with songs.
Songs like “That’s the Way It Is”
Try:
- D’Angelo – Unshaken
- Willie Nelson – Cruel World
- Rhiannon Giddens – Mountain Hymn
- Daniel Lanois – The Maker
- Johnny Cash – Hurt
- Bob Dylan – Not Dark Yet
- Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Into My Arms
- Gregory Alan Isakov – The Stable Song
- José González – Stay Alive
- Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
These recordings share different qualities of reflective songwriting and atmospheric production.
Why is the soundtrack so memorable?
Because the music is connected with the player’s actions.
In a film, everybody experiences the same sequence.
In a game, the player’s decisions contribute to the emotional context.
That makes Arthur’s final ride particularly personal.
The recording doesn’t simply tell you how the character feels.
It encourages you to remember what you’ve experienced alongside him.
What is Arthur Morgan’s final ride song?
“That’s the Way It Is” by Daniel Lanois.
Written with Rocco DeLuca and created for Red Dead Redemption 2.
It’s different from D’Angelo’s “Unshaken”, which accompanies another important journey.
Both recordings are essential parts of the soundtrack.
But Arthur’s famous final ride belongs to Lanois.
And it’s one of gaming’s clearest examples of music transforming an interactive story into something deeply emotional.