Little Big Town Dishes on What Their Song 'Sober' Means to Them

By Kiran Hefa & Katie Kauss

11/06/2013 at 06:45 PM EST

Little Big Town takes the stage at the Country Thunder music festival in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin

Rick Diamond/Getty

For Little Big Town members Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, all you need is love to understand the meaning of their hit song, "Sober," which will be performed by the band on Wednesday's Country Music Awards.

"'Sober' reminds me of ... when Jimi [Westbrook] and I first fell in love," Fairchild tells PEOPLE of the ballad, adding that it stirs memories of the pair's trips to a drive-in theater from the start of their relationship.

For Schlapman, the song is a reminder of past heartbreak.

"I've experienced what it means to lose the love of your life and I've experienced what it feels like to love again after great loss," she says, "so this song touches me so deeply in my heart."

To hear more of what the pair has to say, listen in below. And stream their song "Sober" before Wednesday's CMAs:

CMA Awards Red Carpet Live will air Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. ET on GAC, followed by The 47th Annual CMA Awards, which will air live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.