Maddie & Tae are an American female country music duo composed of Maddie Ma… Read Full Bio ↴Maddie & Tae are an American female country music duo composed of Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye, both of whom are singers, songwriters, and guitarists. The duo was signed to the revived Dot Records in 2014. Their debut album, “Start Here”, was released on August 28, 2015, and includes the singles "Girl in a Country Song", "Fly", "Shut Up and Fish", and "Sierra". Following the closure of Dot, they signed to Mercury Nashville in 2018 and announced the release of a second album, “The Way It Feels”, on April 10, 2020.

Maddie Marlow and Taylor Dye never intended to hit a nerve when they sat down on St. Patricks Day and wrote “Girl In A Country Song.” Merely expressing their own reaction to the reductive tilt of today’s BroCountry, the pair and co-writer Aaron Schwerz shamelessly skewered its Xeroxed stereotypes; “Girl” was as much a lark as it was ever “meaningful social commentary.”

Yet the response was so instant and intense, there was no denying it. NPR’s “All Things Considered” cited Maddie & Tae for “turning heads in different ways with their very first single,” Rolling Stone cited them as one of “10 New Artists You Need to Know” and David Letterman couldn’t get the plucky duo to New York fast enough. Even elevated cultural think-tank The Atlantic marveled, “Cheekily appropriating much of the sound of modern country, the two young women directly quote well-known bro-country lyrics and titles…”

No one was more surprised than the natives of Sugar Land, Texas and Ada, Oklahoma. Still in the studio tracking overdubs for “Girl,” they signed their record deal before Dan Huff had even finished four sides on the sunshine’n’moxie pair.

“We wanted to go at it from a girl’s perspective, and we wanted to put ourselves in the shoes of this girl,” says Dye. “You know, how does she feel wearing those cut-off shorts, sitting on the tailgate?”

“Boys, we love you, we want to look good, but it’s not all we’re good for,” Marlow cautions with a laugh. “We are girls with something to say. We were brought up to know how we should be treated.”

Simple as that. But there’s so much more to Maddie & Tae than the song that is either a feminist declaration, an echo of Janet Jackson’s rebuke “I’ve got a name, and it ain’t ‘Baby’,” or this year’s feel-good finger-wag to dumb boys. NPR’s lead pop critic Ann Powers agrees, “Maddie and Tae are more. They’re songwriters, powerful harmonizers, and in the video for ‘Girl In A Country Song,’ natural comediennes.”

One listen to their self-titled EP shows that. The reeling mean-girl send-up “Sierra,” with its bending steel and trotting acoustic guitar, boasts harmonies that turn in on each other and the kind of truth that’s hilarious and straight-up.

“There was this beauty-queen bully from high school who sent my friends and I home in tears plenty of times,” Marlow explains. “In order to get over it, I had to write a song. So I brought the idea of ‘Sierra,’ and started singing, ‘I wish I had something nice to say…’

“Tae and our co-writer Aaron Scherz lit up and ran with it.”

Any one who’s suffered through and survived high school can relate. But the ability to rhyme “Sierra, Sierra, life ain’t all tiaras…” and taking the rejoinder “you’re gonna find out karma’s a…” to the brink is what sets these two late teenagers apart.
Effervescent and savoring every moment, Maddie & Tae laugh when they lean into the cautionary “That high horse you’re riding… can buck you off clean,” then let their harmonies swoop free and high on the outro.

Like a lot of young women, Maddie & Tae grew up on the Dixie Chicks’ full-tilt acoustica. Both dreamers who knew what they wanted early, the pair met at 15 through their vocal coach and came to Nashville for “a summer camp publishing deal.” They met Big Machine’s SVP of A&R Allison Jones – and fate stepped in.

As Tae recalls, “She said, ‘If you really want to pursue this, you will need to move to Nashville.’ I knew that was what I wanted, but moving to Nashville also meant I had to figure out how to graduate from high school early, and Maddie had to turn down college.”

In 2013, it was decided. The pair relocated – and never looked back. Publishing deal in hand, they were immersed in creativity, seeking a voice that was both authentic and truly their own. Like Taylor Swift, the duo knew by speaking their truth, their uniqueness would set them apart.

As Marlow told Rolling Stone Country, “Our whole project revolves around keeping it real and being honest. We didn’t filter anything, because we felt like when it comes from an honest place, the truth will resonate so much better. The thing about Taylor, everything is real and relevant to what she’s going through, and that’s why people connect with her.”

Listening to the double harmonies over an acoustic guitar hope-strung-over-doubt mid-tempo “Fly,” Maddie & Tae’s conviction is evident. Will what’s been built be betrayed? How do you keep the faith when you’re so unsure? Where is the courage to maintain your place when you’re afraid of the outcome?

Not since “Wide Open Spaces” has an act embraced the will to grow so unabashedly. In perfect synchronization, Maddie & Tae sing, “Keep on climbing, though the ground might shake, keep on reaching through the limb might break/ we’ve come this far, don’t be scared now ‘Cause you can learn to fly on the way down…”

It’s the sort of song that empowers people wherever they are in life, whatever challenge they may be encountering. Yes, it is about coming of age, but it’s also facing the things that scare you – and having the faith to transcend.

“’Fly’ hits home every time we listen to it,” Dye offers. “We really wanted to write a song that was, ‘You may not have anything figured out, but it doesn’t matter.’”

Indeed. Townes Van Zant wrote, “To live is to fly…” For Maddie & Tae, their wings are in the music. What they feel, how they live, what they dream – this is where they rise. One need only listen to the tumbledown hoedown “Your Side of Town,” that’s all high jinx and higher spirits as the pair warn off a no-good man for the last time, to understand.

Even in the hardcore throw-down, all bucking backbeat and bee-sting guitar, there is a romp and a plucky audacity that shows these young ladies have no interest in letting anything break their spirits. Just as importantly, they fear no fiddles, no banjos, no steel guitars, even as they have bulked up drums that crash and guitars that slash and sting like the big boys.

While Rolling Stone observed, “Cheekily appropriating much of the sound of modern country,” there is so much more to Maddie & Tae than that. Independent thinkers, strong livers, hardcore dreamers, the pair are reaching for the sky – and winking at us all while they do it.

Sometimes, it’s the freshest faces and brightest sounds that pull us in. For Maddie & Tae, who embrace real country, it’s that merge of what’s right now and what they love that sets them apart/captures our imaginations in the best possible way.

I Don't Need To Know
Maddie & Tae Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a text about the dress that she was wearin'
That had you starin' last Friday night
Both of you in that corner booth
Sittin' so close, just one shadow in the neon light
Everybody wanna tell me everything you're doin'
And shine a light on just how on you're movin'

But I don't need to know

I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keepin' you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody tellin' me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keepin' you company
I don't need to know, no, no

A friend of a friend saw you dancin'
But you hate dancin', boy, what the hell?
What you tryin' to prove?
Are you puttin' on a show for whoever wants to watch?
On second thought

I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keepin' you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody tellin' me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keepin' you company
No
No, no, no
No, no, no

What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?
What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?

'Cause I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keepin' you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody tellin' me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keepin' you company

I don't need to know
I don't need to know

I don't need to know
I don't need to know

Overall Meaning

The song "I Don't Need To Know" by Maddie & Tae is a powerful declaration of independence and self-assurance. The song is about a person who is being bombarded with information about their ex-partner's whereabouts and activities, but they do not want to know any details about it. The singer is confident in their own worth and does not need validation or reassurance from anyone else. The lyrics talk about how the singer does not want any third-party observations or updates, as they are convinced that what they don't know can't hurt them.

The song explores the idea that sometimes ignorance is bliss. By not knowing what their ex is doing, they can focus on moving on and living their life. They are not interested in their ex's new relationships or friendships and would rather not waste their energy worrying about something that is out of their control.

Overall, the message of the song is that it is better to focus on oneself and to let go of the past. The singer is strong in their convictions and is not swayed by what others think or say. By the end of the song, the singer is no longer bothered by the rumours and is content in their own life.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a text about the dress that she was wearin'
I received a message about the outfit that a woman was wearing

That had you starin' last Friday night
You were gazing at her on a past Friday night

Both of you in that corner booth
You and the woman were seated together in a corner booth

Sittin' so close, just one shadow in the neon light
You two were in close proximity, appearing as a single shadow under neon lights

Everybody wanna tell me everything you're doin'
Others want to gossip about your actions

And shine a light on just how on you're movin'
They want to make it clear how you're behaving

But I don't need to know
I am uninterested in the information

Who's keepin' you company
I don't need to know the identity of your companion

The only thing worse than my imagination
My imagination would be the only thing worse than what is being said about you

Is all of these third-party observations
These accounts from people not directly involved are also unpleasant

A friend of a friend saw you dancin'
Someone who knows someone claims to have seen you dancing

But you hate dancin', boy, what the hell?
You supposedly dislike dancing, so why would you do it?

What you tryin' to prove?
Why are you attempting to make a point?

Are you puttin' on a show for whoever wants to watch?
Are you pretending for an audience?

On second thought
After further consideration

No
I really don't need to know any of this

What you don't know can't kill ya
Not knowing something won't harm you

So keep it to yourself now, will ya?
Please refrain from telling me

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Adam Hambrick, Jimmy Robbins, Maddie Marlow, Taylor Elizabeth Dye

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Rana Raniah

4y↑70

I got a text about the dress that she was wearing
That had you staring, last Friday night
Both of you were in that corner booth
Sitting so close, just one shadow in the neon light
Everybody wanna tell me everything you're doing
And shine a light on just how on you're moving

But I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody telling me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know, no

A friend of a friend saw you dancing
But you hate dancing, boy, what the hell?
Whatchu trying to prove?
Are you putting on a show for whoever wants to watch?
On second thought

I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody telling me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company

No, no, no...

What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?
What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?

'Cause I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody telling me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company

I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know

Naweza Shaikh

4y↑7

I DON'T NEED TO KNOW

I got a text about the dress that she was wearing
That had you staring, last Friday night
Both of you were in that corner booth
Sitting so close, just one shadow in the neon light
Everybody wanna tell me everything you're doing
And shine a light on just how on you're moving

But I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody telling me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know, no

A friend of a friend saw you dancing
But you hate dancing, boy, what the hell?
Whatchu trying to prove?
Are you putting on a show for whoever wants to watch?
On second thought

I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody telling me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company

No, no, no...

What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?
What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?

'Cause I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
So why is everybody telling me?
The only thing worse than my imagination
Is all of these third-party observations
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
Who's keeping you company

I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know
I don't need to know

Rana Raniah

4y↑17

All comments from YouTube:

Joe J

4y↑119

How are they not superstars? I could listen to Maddie & Tae all day. I can say that and keep my man card!

alex kennedy

I agree 100 percent I'm a straight guy and I'm obsessed with their music

alex kennedy

they're nice to look at too! besides having beautiful voices

katyloveskittys

3y↑2

Same sister same

Yee2Min

4y↑85

Love this line "The only thing worse than my imagination ... Is all of these third-party observations" so much that I wrote it in my planner for keepsake! <3

Jade Moore

4y↑25

"I don't need to know, who's keeping you company"
Love your songs but these lyrics and this song hit the mark!!

Well-done girls!! ❤️

April Kicinski

4y↑5

I love this song 😀
It sounds like how I feel right now.

Sharon Wagner

4y↑1

I have felt like that for the past 6 months. It’s a bad feeling.

Desdoesgood

4y↑9

I’d love to see a music video for this

Rachel Dickson

4y↑6

Hi Maddie and Tae, absolutely loving this beautiful country sound 💖 Beautiful guitar playing with beautiful voices 💖 Awesome lyrics and guitar riffs 💖 Thank you so much for sharing this with us 💖🤗 Sending lots of love from Melbourne, Australia

Jennifer Gutierrez

4y↑8

I love it!!! Going through a rough patch in a 13 yr marriage. I needed this.

Chiara Marcheselli

4y↑2

this is my jam! beautiful song

Sam Bradley

4y↑1

Wow, another beauty! I’m buying this album pronto! Love your sound 💗

Alyssa Vierneza

4y↑30

"What you don't know can't kill ya
So keep it to yourself now, will ya?"
PREACH

jlrock69

4y↑1

Good lord, these girls write from the heart and hurt. If they couln't sing they would be top writers for some one else. So damn good.

SimplyLiz

4y↑2

Love this song ❤️

Mia Velie

4y↑4

I love your music, the songs y'all make are my break up anthems. Keep being inspiring, beautiful, and talented, but above all else stay true to yourselfs. ❤❤❤ love your music!!

Laney Dobbs

4y↑1

I love this song ♡

Vickie Trout

4y↑1

Love you girls ❤️ So talented ❤️

Rachael Jaggassar

4y↑1

Love it!!❤❤

Ioana

4y↑1

Love it 🙂

Claire D

4y↑2

Obsessed with this song. ❤️

Casie Mickevich

4y↑5

I legit feel this song... Idk if you guys respond to comments but thank you for this song ❤️

Shawn Eldridge

4y↑7

Maddie and tae the way it feels cd is like totally awesome, love the whole cd & every song on this cd is wonderful. don't ask me wich is my favorite song off this cd, because i dond have any. all the songs are great and it's to hard to choose just 1 or 2 songs . Maddie & tae has out done their selfs on this cd. this cd is that wonderful. can't wait until their nex cd comes out. i know it's gonna be awesome.

Michelle Samba

4y↑1

Always the best !! ❤️

BlurryfaceXXI

4y↑3

Already loving it ❤️

John Mackey

3y↑11

I've yet to hear a bad song from these two ladies

Ava Valencia

3y↑4

I mean if you don’t listen to ALL there songs while your cleaning, doing Landry, school, sitting in your phone literally anything something is wrong

melody Hakunavanhu

4y↑2

This is beautiful 🥰🥰 music to my soul

lux luz

Very good music ☺️

Laken Abbott

4y↑1

LOVE IT

Angel Bowman

4y↑1

I love the new album

MF

4y↑3

HELLA YEAH. NEEDED THIS. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

Sharon Wagner

4y↑2

I commend which ever one of them wrote these lyrics. This is so true. When you hear about it it’s worse! Ten times harder to deal with.

Kaitlin Mastrantuono

3y↑1

Yeah definitely. I just found out through Facebook that my ex is in a relationship. It’s hard to deal with now especially because I wasn’t expecting it. I would’ve been better off not knowing.

NicoO101

4y↑1

Absolutely perfect, love from Paris <3

Mandy Hh

1:56 love it

Taylor Norris

4y↑3

The live version is so much better 🙌🏾

Rana Raniah

4y↑70

Allie Jayne

4y↑1

thank you!!

Annie Bailey

Man this song hits home and hard.

Coral Reef Sounds

4y↑1

great song

Noelle Tucker

AHHH THEIR VOICES

Ali McCowen

4y↑5

Me when I first heard this song: yeah its cool
Me now: KEEP IT TO YOURSELF NOW WILL YA

Grace Luther

4y↑2

Love it! Love from SD

Naweza Shaikh

4y↑7

April Kicinski

4y↑1

😍❤😍

Juan Manuel Avendaño

4y↑4

Here waiting for this awesome release! Greetings from Mexico!

Maddy McLeod

4y↑2

I’m already in love!

Rachel G

4y↑1

Love this so much

Katy Castillo

4y↑1

i can't talk about this to anyone else so. here's a random comment to strangers lol. The guy I wanted... was falling in love with, made me feel like I wasn't good enough . He's marrying another girl. I'm happy for him if he's happy, but I'm not okay. it's always going to hurt, the person that set us up was my best friend, his sister. So as her best friend I can't say how crushed I am that he broke my heart. She's talking about all their plans.... don't know why she would do that if she knows that hurts. I'm really confused but I just say I'm happy for them even though I feel totally torn.

Darry Rivers

Nice sound. I like your song :D

Tia Louisa

The only company I ever want is you 💖SB💖

Wesley Patterson

3y↑4

When I first heard this I thought it was a diss track to social media,🤣🤣🤣 I don't know why I thought that. I just did.

alex kennedy

they are incapable of making a bad song

CamouflageQueen91

4y↑1

💗

Kathy Tittle

4y↑1

I love this song I love you😍

Kathy Chaney

4y↑1

Fantastic women doing a son that every woman know in their lifetime. Please guys try to not have an other woman because you just realize to late your wife girlfriend is the one you really love and loved you

Amy Allan

4y↑1

Unfortunately they seem to always think theres greener pastures and manage to behave quite beastly about it.

Lisa Lovelace

I love ava max but I love maddie and tae

kev bridges

Nice pop music, prefer country though

Townes Hardy

4y↑3

HELLO I don't want to write a whole other big text so go look at my comment on Drunk or lonely but I can say I LOVE YALL

Jon Adams

I don't need to know Maddie tae song music video.

Robert Miller

4y↑7

First

Mia Velie

4y↑3

I love your music, the songs y'all make are my break up anthems. Keep being inspiring, beautiful, and talented, but above all else stay true to yourselfs. ❤❤❤ love your music!!