Both of her parents are private investigators, but father Rick is also a country guitarist and songwriter. Lambert became seriously interested in country music after attending a Garth Brooks concert as a young girl, and soon began singing in talent contests under the tutelage of her father.
At 16, Miranda began appearing on the Johnny High Country Music Review in Arlington, Texas, the same show that helped launch the career of LeAnn Rimes. Miranda quickly landed a recording session in Nashville, but left the studio in tears after she became frustrated with the "pop" sound of music that was not her own. Upon returning to Texas, Miranda began writing songs and taking guitar lessons from her father.
When Miranda's aptitude for music became apparent, her parents encouraged her to aggressively pursue singing and acting opportunities. While still a high school student, Miranda made her professional singing debut and fronted the house band at the Reo Palm Isle Ballroom in Longview, Texas, a long-running venue that has showcased Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.
Foregoing college, Miranda performed throughout Texas in 2001 and 2002. She finished first in the Texas auditions for Nashville Star and eventually placed third on the national competition.
Discography
On September 15, 2003, she signed with Sony records. She has since released three studio albums, 2005's Kerosene, 2007's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, 2009's Revolution and 2011's Four The Record; all four of which debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Kerosene,Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Revolution have been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Miranda Lambert has release a total of fourteen singles, which includes five Top 20 hits; of these, Kerosene and Gunpowder & Lead have been certified Gold singles by the RIAA.
Awards and Critical Acclaim
In 2005, at the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Miranda won the Cover Girl Fresh Face of Country Music Award. In 2005, she was also nominated for the Country Music Association's Horizon Award and performed "Kerosene". Nashville Scene named Kerosene one of the best albums of 2005
Miranda was nominated for and won the "Album of the Year" award at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards for her latest album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Gunpowder & Lead
Miranda Lambert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothin' on this white rock but little ol' me
I've got two miles 'til he makes bail
And if I'm right, we're headed straight for hell
I'm goin' home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door, and light a cigarette
If he wants a fight, well, now he's got one
And he ain't seen me crazy yet
He slapped my face, and he shook me like a rag doll
Don't that sound like a real man?
I'm going to show him what little girls are made of
Gunpowder and lead
Well, it's half past ten, another six-pack in
And I can feel the rumble like the cold black wind
He pulls in the drive, the gravel flies
He don't know what's waiting here this time
Hey, I'm goin' home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door, and light a cigarette
If he wants a fight, well, now he's got one
And he ain't seen me crazy yet
He slapped my face, and he shook me like a rag doll
Don't that sound like a real man?
I'm going to show him what little girls are made of
Gunpowder and lead
His fist is big, but my gun's bigger
He'll find out when I pull the trigger
I'm goin' home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door, and light a cigarette
If he wants a fight, well, now he's got one
And he ain't seen me crazy yet
He slapped my face, and he shook me like a rag doll
Don't that sound like a real man?
I'm going to show him what little girls are made of
Gunpowder and, gunpowder and lead
Gunpowder and lead, yeah, yeah
Hey
The song "Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert is about a woman who is seeking revenge against her abusive husband. The lyrics depict her preparation for when he returns home after being bailed out of jail. She loads her shotgun, smokes a cigarette, and declares that if he wants a fight, he's got one. She has had enough of his abuse and is ready to stand up for herself.
The lyrics are powerful and show the woman's strength and determination to protect herself. She is not portrayed as a victim but as a survivor who is willing to fight back. The imagery of gunpowder and lead represents her retaliation and serves as a warning to her husband that she will no longer tolerate his abuse.
Interestingly, the song was initially meant to be a ballad, but Miranda Lambert felt that it needed to be more intense. She rewrote the lyrics to make it more empowering and wrote the chorus in a way that it would stick in the listener's mind. The song has become one of her most iconic hits and is often performed at her concerts.
Line by Line Meaning
County road two thirty-three under my feet
I'm alone on this path with nothing but the hard terrain beneath me.
Nothin' on this white rock but little ol' me
There's nothing here but me, on this barren place.
I've got two miles 'til he makes bail
He's going to be released from custody in two miles.
And if I'm right, we're headed straight for hell
If my intuition is correct, we're headed towards a disastrous end.
I'm goin' home, gonna load my shotgun
I'm returning home and preparing my shotgun.
Wait by the door, and light a cigarette
I'll be waiting by the door, patiently smoking a cigarette.
If he wants a fight, well, now he's got one
If he desires a confrontation with me, he will receive one.
And he ain't seen me crazy yet
He hasn't witnessed my true insanity yet.
He slapped my face, and he shook me like a rag doll
He hit me and treated me like a toy without value.
Don't that sound like a real man?
Sarcastically, does that type of behavior sound heroic?
I'm going to show him what little girls are made of
I'll reveal my true strength as a woman.
Gunpowder and lead
I will be wielding bullets and deadly ammunition.
Well, it's half past ten, another six-pack in
It's late in the night, and I've consumed another pack of beer.
And I can feel the rumble like the cold black wind
I can sense a menacing spark, brewing like the chilly darkness.
He pulls in the drive, the gravel flies
He enters the driveway, and the gravel reacts to his arrival.
He don't know what's waiting here this time
He is unaware of the consequences he will face upon arrival.
His fist is big, but my gun's bigger
He may have a large fist, but my firearm is grander.
He'll find out when I pull the trigger
He will experience the impact of my bullet when I pull the trigger.
Gunpowder and, gunpowder and lead
My weapons of choice are firepower and ammo.
Gunpowder and lead, yeah, yeah
My ammunition of choice is some gunpowder and lead.
Hey
A casual exclamation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Heather Marie Little, Miranda Lambert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind