The song playing during Arthur Morgan’s famous final ride in Red Dead Redemption 2 is \u201cThat’s the Way It Is\u201d by Daniel Lanois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording was written specifically for Rockstar’s 2018 game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there’s another song frequently confused with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnshaken\u201d by D’Angelo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both recordings appear during important emotional moments in the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both are associated with Arthur Morgan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And both became fan favourites because of how effectively they connect with the game’s characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the famous ride back towards Beaver Hollow is accompanied by \u201cThat’s the Way It Is\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Near the end of Chapter 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arthur has reached a critical point in his story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He understands that Dutch van der Linde’s gang is collapsing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has also discovered information that changes his understanding of the people around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After helping Abigail and Sadie, Arthur returns towards the gang’s camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The journey becomes a cinematic sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he rides, the player hears the song and remembers important moments from Arthur’s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The effect is particularly powerful because players have spent so many hours with the character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel Lanois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Canadian musician is known both as a recording artist and an influential producer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His production credits include work with U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel and Neil Young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also collaborated extensively with Brian Eno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Red Dead Redemption 2, Lanois played a central role in producing the vocal soundtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His own performance became one of its most recognisable moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel Lanois and Rocco DeLuca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording was created specifically for the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its arrangement combines folk, Americana and atmospheric rock influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That musical identity fits the game’s world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The story takes place during the decline of America’s outlaw era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The characters are struggling to survive as the country changes around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording’s reflective atmosphere helps communicate that sense of transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acceptance, regret and the consequences of life choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song suggests that people cannot always control what happens to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But they can still decide how to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s particularly appropriate for Arthur Morgan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For much of the game, Arthur follows the expectations of his gang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the story develops, he begins questioning those decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He becomes more aware of the harm caused by the group’s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song reflects that emotional transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the game allows players to remember their own experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scene isn’t simply a conventional cinematic sequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Players have spent hours making decisions as Arthur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They may have helped strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Made mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Developed friendships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or behaved selfishly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final ride connects those experiences with the character’s journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The music encourages reflection rather than excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s unusual for a major action game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The emotional climax is partly about remembering what has already happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game uses different versions of the musical sequence depending on Arthur’s honour level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The surrounding memories and emotional presentation also vary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That makes the scene feel connected with the player’s decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arthur’s experience isn’t completely separate from how the player has chosen to behave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The music becomes part of that interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a particularly effective example of a soundtrack responding to the structure of a game rather than functioning as a fixed film cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnshaken\u201d is performed by D’Angelo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It plays during another memorable journey in Red Dead Redemption 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song became strongly associated with Arthur’s story because of its emotional atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s understandable that players sometimes confuse the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both feature restrained vocals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both are reflective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And both accompany important moments involving travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the final return towards Beaver Hollow is associated with Daniel Lanois’ \u201cThat’s the Way It Is\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
D’Angelo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The American soul musician became internationally famous through albums such as Brown Sugar, Voodoo and Black Messiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His contribution to Red Dead Redemption 2 was created through the collaboration involving Daniel Lanois and other musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording combines gospel and soul influences with a restrained arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It became an important part of the game’s soundtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the soundtrack needed to support an enormous fictional world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rockstar worked with artists from several musical traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recordings incorporate country, folk, blues, soul and atmospheric instrumental music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contributors include Willie Nelson, Rhiannon Giddens, Josh Homme and D’Angelo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That mixture gives the game a musical identity extending beyond conventional Western film scores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s particularly effective because the story is about a diverse country experiencing enormous historical change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Woody Jackson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He developed the game’s extensive instrumental score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daniel Lanois produced the vocal soundtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those roles are related but different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jackson’s music supports exploration, combat and dramatic scenes throughout the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vocal recordings frequently accompany specific emotional moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That creates a useful balance between continuous background music and memorable songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2: Original Soundtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The album was released on 12 July 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It includes thirteen recordings featuring artists associated with the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A separate album collects material from the instrumental score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re searching for the specific final-ride song, the vocal soundtrack is the appropriate release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Americana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atmospheric folk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cinematic singer-songwriter music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording also draws from gospel and roots-music traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its arrangement is deliberately restrained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That allows the vocal and emotional message to remain central.<\/p>\n\n\n\n