Growing up, her parents played songs by the Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd, so her country rock roots started early, and she was already taking piano lesson before she turned seven. At age 11, she won a talent contest in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (home of Dolly Parton's resort "Dollywood"), singing "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart." She subsequently found steady work performing in a theater in Pigeon Forge. A couple year later, her father gave Monroe her first guitar, and she began writing her own songs. But tragedy struck when her father died from cancer in 2000. While still grieving over their loss, Monroe and her mother continued on with their lives and moved to Nashville so she could pursue her career in music.
After a year in Nashville, she gained a publishing deal as a songwriter, which led to a record contract with Columbia Records' Nashville division. Working with producer Mark Wright, she recorded her debut album, Satisfied. In 2006, the title track to the album was released as the first single to country radio, but failed to crack the top 40 on the Hot Country Songs chart. A second single, "I Don't Want To" featuring Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, followed shortly after. Initially it did well on the charts, charting to #37, but following the merger of Columbia and Sony, the label decided not to release the album until Monroe charted a top 20 single. No follow-up singles were ever released. iTunes briefly made the album available for download in July 2006 but it was removed from the online store by mid-August.
In late 2007, Monroe and Columbia Records parted ways, and Satisfied was shelved (it was eventually released digitally in May of 2009). In addition to her own material, she co-wrote Katrina Elam's 2007 single "Flat on the Floor" (which was also recorded by Carrie Underwood on her 2007 album Carnival Ride), as well as Jason Aldean's 2009 single, "The Truth", and Miranda Lambert's 2011 single, "Heart Like Mine."
Monroe continued collaborating with Lambert, forming Pistol Annies with Lambert and Angaleena Presley in 2011. They released the single "Hell on Heels" in May of that year, following up with an album of the same name in August. Hell on Heels debuted at number 1 on Billboard's Country Album Chart and reached number 5 on the Billboard 200 Chart.
Monroe next teamed up with producer Vince Gill, and on March 5, 2013, Warner Nashville released Monroe's second studio album, Like A Rose.
Used
Ashley Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly fading out of tune
Used, like the soles on the bottom of my favorite pair, of dancing shoes
I know I'm not some bright and shiny
Polished up, car that's sparkling new
Right off the salesroom floor
Yeah I've got some dents and bruises
Where, my heart was broke before
In the end, I'll worth a whole lot more
Used
Used, like a book read so many times
Front to back it starts to split in two
Used, like a house where a family lived
Until they died and there's a soul in every room
I know I'm not some brand new dress
Hanging there perfectly pressed
That never has been worn
I've got some buttons missing
And there's a couple stains
And places where the fabric has been torn
But in the end, I'll be worth a whole lot more, used
This fragile heart has been passed around been ignored and been let down,
been learning since the day that I was born
But everything it's been through has lead me down to this road to
and I can give like I couldn't give before
but in the end I can love a whole lot more
Used
Used
The lyrics of Ashley Monroe's song "Used" speak to the idea that our experiences and imperfections, even our pain and heartbreak, can make us more valuable and capable of love. She uses metaphors such as an old piano fading out of tune, worn-out shoes that have been danced in, and a well-read book that starts to split in two to convey the idea that she has been through a lot, and though it has left scars and made her imperfect, it has also given her depth and meaning.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that though she may not be shiny and new like a brand new car or dress, she is worth more because of what she has been through. She acknowledges the dents, bruises, and stains in her life, but rather than seeing them as flaws to be covered up, she embraces them as part of who she is.
Monroe goes on to say that her heart has been through a lot and has been ignored and let down, but instead of being bitter or closing herself off, she has learned to give more love than she could before. This idea that our struggles can make us more compassionate and empathetic is a powerful message that resonates with many listeners.
Overall, "Used" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to embrace their imperfections and recognize the value in their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Used, like an old piano played for generations
Comparing oneself to an old piano that has been played for generations and is now slowly fading out of tune, signifying how the singer has been used and perhaps past their prime.
Used, like the soles on the bottom of my favorite pair, of dancing shoes
Using the metaphor of favorite dancing shoes to express the singer's relatable state of being used and having lost their shine.
I know I'm not some bright and shiny
Polished up, car that's sparkling new
Right off the salesroom floor
The singer acknowledges that they are not a brand new, perfect car fresh out of the salesroom, signifying that they understand they have experienced life's wear and tear.
Yeah I've got some dents and bruises
I've been dropped and there's a scar
Where, my heart was broke before
In the end, I'll worth a whole lot more
Used
The artist recognizes the bruises and scars inflicted by past hurt and heartbreak, but concludes that the experience makes them more valuable in the end, highlighting the importance of past experience.
Used, like a book read so many times
Front to back it starts to split in two
The artist describes themselves as a well-worn book that has been read countless times, causing it to show signs of wear and tear, signifying the artist's feeling of being used.
Used, like a house where a family lived
Until they died and there's a soul in every room
Comparing themselves to a house where a family lived, signifying the singer's emotional depth and life experience, which contributes to their value and worth.
I know I'm not some brand new dress
Hanging there perfectly pressed
That never has been worn
The singer acknowledges that they are not like a brand new dress that is perfectly pressed and unworn, signifying that the singer has already experienced life.
I've got some buttons missing
And there's a couple stains
And places where the fabric has been torn
But in the end, I'll be worth a whole lot more, used
The artist acknowledges the imperfections and hardships they have encountered, but finds solace in the idea that their struggles will ultimately make them more valuable in the end.
This fragile heart has been passed around been ignored and been let down,
been learning since the day that I was born
But everything it's been through has lead me down to this road to
and I can give like I couldn't give before
but in the end I can love a whole lot more
Used
Through their past struggles, the artist has learned to become more resilient and is now able to give love more fully, signifying the artist's emotional growth and valuing of past experience.
Used
Reiterating the title of the song, the artist concludes that despite feeling used or damaged, they are nonetheless valuable and worthy of love, highlighting the importance of embracing past experience.
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Ashley Monroe, Sally Jill Barris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christophergray7330
I heard this on the Richie Allen radio show podcast. It's almost 10 years old! How come this song never became known all over the world...? Simply brilliant, arrangement, lyrics, song, voice....
@valerierichardson5821
One talented gal right here, she sings country and we love it!
@maisiemayorchard
Good Taste in music Rockabilly !!!
@valerierichardson5821
Rebecca Orchard Hey Darlin I sure miss ya, and thank you for hooking me up! I sure love her voice!
@mtarasov1
Valerie Richardson Good night friends! ☼ ((✾◕‿◕✾)) Фантастика!☼ Very nice post my friend ☼ ★★★★★ Fantastic!
@reubencorey4809
Sorry to be off topic but does anybody know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly forgot the account password. I would appreciate any help you can give me.
@marcoalvaro627
@Reuben Corey Instablaster =)
@cactuscircle
Voice pure as snow. Love the bluegrass inspired vocals. I wish country radio sounded like this.
@tednorton5150
cactuscircle where is the love for her ? This is stunning material right here.
@countrygirlcountrymusiclov5831
cactuscircle IT DOES.SOUND EXACTLY IDENTICAL TO THIS LITTLE BITCH. TURN ON YOUR FUCKING RADIO AND YOU WILL HEAR THAT IT DOES