Merry Go
Kacey Musgraves Lyrics

If you ain't got two kids by twenty-one
According to tradition, if you do not have two kids by the age of 21, you are unlikely to find a life partner and may die alone.

You're probably gonna die alone
If you do not follow the traditional way of life by having two kids by age 21, you will likely end up alone, according to tradition.

Least that's what tradition told you
This line emphasizes the idea that following tradition is what leads to certain beliefs, like the idea that you need to have two kids by age 21 to avoid dying alone.

And it don't matter if you don't believe
Even if you don't believe in the traditional ways of life, there will still be consequences for not following them.

Come Sunday morning, you best be there
Another traditional expectation is that you must attend church on Sunday morning, regardless of your personal beliefs or inclinations.

In the front row, like you're s'posed to
It is expected that you will sit in the front row of the church, following tradition and adhering to the expectations of the community.

Same hurt in every heart
Everyone experiences heartache and turmoil in their lives, regardless of who they are or their circumstances.

Same trailer, different park
While people may come from different backgrounds and live in different places, they all end up in the same types of situations and trying to cope in similar ways.

Mama's hooked on Mary Kay
One person in the family is addicted to selling Mary Kay cosmetics, a well-known direct selling brand.

Brother's hooked on Mary Jane
Someone else in the family is addicted to marijuana or 'Mary Jane'.

And daddy's hooked on Mary two doors down
Another person in the family is having an affair with a woman named Mary who lives two doors down from them.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
The repetition of Mary from the previous lines continues in this line, referencing the famous nursery rhyme 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary'.

We get bored, so we get married
People get married because they are bored and looking for a change or excitement in their lives.

And just like dust, we settle in this town
When people get married, they often settle into a routine and stay in the same place for a long time, like dust settling in one spot.

On this broken merry go 'round and 'round and 'round we go
The repetition of 'and round' emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, with people going in circles like a broken merry go round.

Where it stops, nobody knows
Just like a merry go round, nobody knows where life will ultimately end up or take them.

And it ain't slowin' down
Life continues to move forward and people are unable to slow it down or stop it from happening.

We think the first time's good enough
People often believe that the first time they experience something is good enough, and that they can't or won't find anything better.

So we hold on to high school love
People often hold onto the idea of their high school love being the only true love they will experience, despite it often not being the case.

Say we won't end up like our parents
People often want to avoid becoming like their parents, but often end up making the same choices or experiencing similar situations.

Tiny little boxes in a row
This line is likely referencing suburban homes that all look the same and are arranged in neat rows or neighborhoods.

Ain't what you want, it's what you know
People often settle for what they know, even if it isn't what they truly want, out of a sense of familiarity or comfort.

Just happy in the shoes you're wearin'
People often find happiness in their current situation or circumstances, even if it isn't what they thought they wanted in life.

Same checks we're always cashin'
People often have to keep cashing the same checks or doing the same things to maintain their lifestyle and keep things going.

To buy a little more distraction
People often use distractions or material things to take their mind off of their problems or difficulties in life.

We're so bored until we're buried
People live boring lives until they die.

And just like dust, we settle in this town
This line is repeated from earlier in the song, showing the cyclical nature of life and the tendency for people to stay in one spot for long periods of time.

On this broken merry go 'round
Reiterating the idea of life being like a broken merry go round.

Jack and Jill went up the hill
Referencing the nursery rhyme 'Jack and Jill'.

Jack burned out on booze and pills
Jack became addicted to drugs and alcohol and couldn't handle it.

And Mary had a little lamb
Referencing the nursery rhyme 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'.

Mary just don't give a damn no more
Mary has stopped caring about anything and given up on trying to change her situation in life.