Maddie Marlow and Taylor Dye never intended to hit a nerve when they sat down on St. Patricks Day and wrote βGirl In A Country Song.β Merely expressing their own reaction to the reductive tilt of todayβs BroCountry, the pair and co-writer Aaron Schwerz shamelessly skewered its Xeroxed stereotypes; βGirlβ was as much a lark as it was ever βmeaningful social commentary.β
Yet the response was so instant and intense, there was no denying it. NPRβs βAll Things Consideredβ cited Maddie & Tae for βturning heads in different ways with their very first single,β Rolling Stone cited them as one of β10 New Artists You Need to Knowβ and David Letterman couldnβt get the plucky duo to New York fast enough. Even elevated cultural think-tank The Atlantic marveled, βCheekily appropriating much of the sound of modern country, the two young women directly quote well-known bro-country lyrics and titlesβ¦β
No one was more surprised than the natives of Sugar Land, Texas and Ada, Oklahoma. Still in the studio tracking overdubs for βGirl,β they signed their record deal before Dan Huff had even finished four sides on the sunshineβnβmoxie pair.
βWe wanted to go at it from a girlβs perspective, and we wanted to put ourselves in the shoes of this girl,β says Dye. βYou know, how does she feel wearing those cut-off shorts, sitting on the tailgate?β
βBoys, we love you, we want to look good, but itβs not all weβre good for,β Marlow cautions with a laugh. βWe are girls with something to say. We were brought up to know how we should be treated.β
Simple as that. But thereβs so much more to Maddie & Tae than the song that is either a feminist declaration, an echo of Janet Jacksonβs rebuke βIβve got a name, and it ainβt βBabyβ,β or this yearβs feel-good finger-wag to dumb boys. NPRβs lead pop critic Ann Powers agrees, βMaddie and Tae are more. Theyβre songwriters, powerful harmonizers, and in the video for βGirl In A Country Song,β natural comediennes.β
One listen to their self-titled EP shows that. The reeling mean-girl send-up βSierra,β with its bending steel and trotting acoustic guitar, boasts harmonies that turn in on each other and the kind of truth thatβs hilarious and straight-up.
βThere was this beauty-queen bully from high school who sent my friends and I home in tears plenty of times,β Marlow explains. βIn order to get over it, I had to write a song. So I brought the idea of βSierra,β and started singing, βI wish I had something nice to sayβ¦β
βTae and our co-writer Aaron Scherz lit up and ran with it.β
Any one whoβs suffered through and survived high school can relate. But the ability to rhyme βSierra, Sierra, life ainβt all tiarasβ¦β and taking the rejoinder βyouβre gonna find out karmaβs aβ¦β 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 βThat high horse youβre ridingβ¦ can buck you off clean,β then let their harmonies swoop free and high on the outro.
Like a lot of young women, Maddie & Tae grew up on the Dixie Chicksβ 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 βa summer camp publishing deal.β They met Big Machineβs SVP of A&R Allison Jones β and fate stepped in.
As Tae recalls, βShe said, βIf you really want to pursue this, you will need to move to Nashville.β 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.β
In 2013, it was decided. The pair relocated β 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, βOur whole project revolves around keeping it real and being honest. We didnβt 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 sheβs going through, and thatβs why people connect with her.β
Listening to the double harmonies over an acoustic guitar hope-strung-over-doubt mid-tempo βFly,β Maddie & Taeβs conviction is evident. Will whatβs been built be betrayed? How do you keep the faith when youβre so unsure? Where is the courage to maintain your place when youβre afraid of the outcome?
Not since βWide Open Spacesβ has an act embraced the will to grow so unabashedly. In perfect synchronization, Maddie & Tae sing, βKeep on climbing, though the ground might shake, keep on reaching through the limb might break/ weβve come this far, donβt be scared now βCause you can learn to fly on the way downβ¦β
Itβs 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 itβs also facing the things that scare you β and having the faith to transcend.
ββFlyβ hits home every time we listen to it,β Dye offers. βWe really wanted to write a song that was, βYou may not have anything figured out, but it doesnβt matter.ββ
Indeed. Townes Van Zant wrote, βTo live is to flyβ¦β For Maddie & Tae, their wings are in the music. What they feel, how they live, what they dream β this is where they rise. One need only listen to the tumbledown hoedown βYour Side of Town,β thatβs 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, βCheekily appropriating much of the sound of modern country,β there is so much more to Maddie & Tae than that. Independent thinkers, strong livers, hardcore dreamers, the pair are reaching for the sky β and winking at us all while they do it.
Sometimes, itβs the freshest faces and brightest sounds that pull us in. For Maddie & Tae, who embrace real country, itβs that merge of whatβs right now and what they love that sets them apart/captures our imaginations in the best possible way.
Trying On Rings
Maddie & Tae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two Sugar Land kids looking all grown up
The same ones that were too young to stay in love
But here we are, so good so far
Hey, baby, look at us
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor
When we got what we got, we don't need nothing more
What a life, what a love, look at us
From, "Hey, can I get your number?"
To, "Whatcha doin' Friday night?"
Straight through a teenage summer
To goin' on our fifth July
From porch lights and swingin' on swings
To real life doin' its thing
From some silly seventeen fling
To tryin' on rings
Look at you
Lookin' at me like you always have
Lookin' for the ways to make me laugh
And just like that, it takes me back
Boy, right back
To, "Hey, can I get your number?"
To, "Whatcha doin' Friday night?"
Straight through a teenage summer
To goin' on our fifth July
From porch lights and swingin' on swings
To real life doin' its thing
From some silly seventeen fling
To tryin' on rings
From the close calls and almost walking out the door
To runnin' so fast, straight back to the thing worth fighting for
It all started with a, "Hey, can I get your number?"
To, "Whatcha doin' Friday night?"
Straight through a teenage summer
To goin' on our fifth July
From not knowing what it all means
When real life is doin' its thing
From some silly seventeen fling
To tryin' on rings
To tryin' on rings
In "Trying On Rings," Maddie & Tae reflect on their journey of love and growth from their teenage years to adulthood. The song celebrates their relationship, highlighting how they have evolved and matured together.
The opening lines "Look at us, Two Sugar Land kids looking all grown up" depict the amazement they feel at how much they've changed and developed since their younger days. They acknowledge that they were once too young to sustain a lasting love but now find themselves in a strong and stable relationship.
The lyrics "Sleeping on a mattress on the floor, When we got what we got, we don't need nothing more, What a life, what a love, look at us" signify their contentment and appreciation for the simple joys in life, despite not having materialistic possessions. Their love is enough to bring them happiness.
The chorus reflects on the progression and longevity of their relationship. It mentions their initial encounters, from asking for each other's phone numbers to making plans for Friday nights. It acknowledges the passage of time, going through multiple summers together and experiencing their fifth July, signifying the endurance of their love.
The lines "From porch lights and swingin' on swings, To real life doin' its thing, From some silly seventeen fling, To tryin' on rings" encapsulate the transition from carefree teenage love to the realities of adulthood. They reminisce about their simple and innocent moments, like hanging out on porches and swinging on swings, and contrast them with the challenges and complexities of real life. The mention of "tryin' on rings" symbolizes their readiness to take their relationship to the next level, bridging the gap between their youthful pursuit of love and their commitment to building a future together.
The final verse reflects on the obstacles they have overcome and the growth they have experienced together. It acknowledges past arguments and near separations but ultimately highlights their determination to fight for their love, continually choosing to stay together. This signifies the strength of their bond and their conviction that their relationship is worth working for.
In conclusion, "Trying On Rings" is a heartfelt reflection on the evolution of a relationship from teenage infatuation to a strong and committed partnership. The song emphasizes the growth and maturity they have experienced together and how their love has transcended the passing of time and challenges of real life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at us
Take a moment to observe our current situation and how far we have come
Two Sugar Land kids looking all grown up
Referring to ourselves as young individuals from Sugar Land, we appear matured and more mature now
The same ones that were too young to stay in love
We were once too inexperienced and immature to maintain a lasting love
But here we are, so good so far
Despite our initial doubts, we have managed to maintain a successful relationship up until now
Hey, baby, look at us
An affectionate address to our partner, urging them to recognize and appreciate our progress
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor
Recalling a time when we had very little material possessions, yet we were content and didn't need anything more
When we got what we got, we don't need nothing more
Expressing gratitude for what we have and emphasizing that we don't require anything beyond our current situation
What a life, what a love, look at us
Reflecting on the beauty and happiness present in our lives and relationship
From, 'Hey, can I get your number?'
The beginning of our journey, starting with a simple request for contact information
To, 'Whatcha doin' Friday night?'
Progressing from casual inquiries about weekend plans as our relationship deepens
Straight through a teenage summer
Continuing our connection throughout a summer characterized by youthful energy and freedom
To goin' on our fifth July
Reaching the point where we have experienced five summers together, symbolizing the passing of time
From porch lights and swingin' on swings
Recalling innocent moments spent swinging on swings under the porch lights
To real life doin' its thing
Transitioning from carefree adolescence to the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood
From some silly seventeen fling
Looking back on a fleeting and perhaps naive romantic encounter when we were seventeen
To tryin' on rings
Progressing in our relationship to the point of considering and discussing marriage
Look at you
Acknowledging the current state of our partner and admiring their consistent behavior and love
Lookin' at me like you always have
Noting that our partner's unwavering love and attention remains unchanged over time
Lookin' for the ways to make me laugh
Appreciating our partner's continuous efforts to bring joy and laughter into our relationship
And just like that, it takes me back
By engaging in these familiar actions, our partner evokes nostalgic memories and emotions within me
Boy, right back
Expressing that our partner's actions bring me back to our early days together and the intense feelings associated with that
From the close calls and almost walking out the door
Referencing moments when our relationship was on the verge of collapsing but somehow we managed to save it
To runnin' so fast, straight back to the thing worth fighting for
Despite encountering difficulties, we always find ourselves racing back to the love and relationship that are truly worth fighting for
To tryin' on rings
Reiterating that our relationship has progressed to the point of seriously considering and discussing marriage
From not knowing what it all means
Reflecting on a time when we were uncertain about the true significance and depth of our relationship
When real life is doin' its thing
Recognizing that amidst the challenges of real life, our relationship continues to grow and evolve
From some silly seventeen fling
Recalling a youthful and potentially insignificant romantic encounter we had when we were seventeen
To tryin' on rings
Indicating that our relationship has advanced to the point where we are actively considering and contemplating marriage
To tryin' on rings
Emphasizing once again that our relationship has evolved to the stage of seriously exploring the idea of marriage
Lyrics Β© Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Robbins, Laura Jeanne Veltz, Maddie Marlow, Taylor Elizabeth Dye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Katlyn Britt-Mendez
Me: sees title and thumbnail
Also me: instantly starts to tear up
Also, congrats to you Maddie and Tae! I wish you ALL nothing but all of my support and happiness! You both and your husbands deserve it! Love you all!
wally chan
Me: sees title and thumbnail
Also me: instantly starts to tear up
Also, congrats to you Maddie and Tae! I wish you ALL nothing but all of my support and happiness! You both and your husbands deserve it! Love you all!
TC
Look at us
Two Sugar Land kids looking all grown up
The same ones that were too young to stay in love
But here we are, so good so far
Hey, baby, look at us
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor
When we got what we got, we don't need nothing more
What a life, what a love, look at us
From, "Hey, can I get your number?"
To, "Whatcha doin' Friday night?"
Straight through a teenage summer
To goin' on our fifth July
From porch lights and swingin' on swings
To real life doin' its thing
From some silly seventeen fling
To tryin' on rings
Look at you
Lookin' at me like you always have
Lookin' for the ways to make me laugh
And just like that, it takes me back
Boy, right back
To, "Hey, can I get your number?"
To, "Whatcha doin' Friday night?"
Straight through a teenage summer
To goin' on our fifth July
From porch lights and swingin' on swings
To real life doin' its thing
From some silly seventeen fling
To tryin' on rings
From the close calls and almost walking out the door
To runnin' so fast, straight back to the thing worth fighting for
It all started with a, "Hey, can I get your number?"
To, "Whatcha doin' Friday night?"
Straight through a teenage summer
To goin' on our fifth July
From not knowing what it all means
When real life is doin' its thing
From some silly seventeen fling
To tryin' on rings
To tryin' on rings
Nerdy Bitch
I love how it started with Maddieβs wedding, and then to Taeβs wedding, it was beautiful :)
Heidi Clark
@Mel Lewis Afshfagth et kh
Jim Bob
So they finally are getting laid now??
Helen Barnes
all of their songs are beautiful
Jessica Syc
I loved it I just went to we need Christmas and commented on something that you had responded to I knew I recognized it
Hunter Kemp
Love it
Shelby Drenth
I'm getting married in less than 4 months and I'm in tears right now, just imagining how beautiful this day will be for me. Congratulations to both of you!
Jackie
Congratulations! I hope everything comes out just like yβall want it βΊοΈ
Maddie & Tae
Congratulations!
Sam Dykema
Just when I think this song can't be any sweeter, Maddie and Tae drop this video. π