The song garnered a positive reception from critics who praised the production and Lambert's delivery of the lyrics. "Mama's Broken Heart" peaked at number 2 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts respectively. It also charted at number 20 on the Hot 100, her fourth top 40 hit on that chart. The song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold 1,960,000 copies in the United States as of September 2015. It achieved similar chart success in Canada, peaking at number one on the Country chart and number 30 on the Canadian Hot 100.
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Trey Fanjoy.
"Mama's Broken Heart" is a moderate uptempo song in the key of E minor written by Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, and Kacey Musgraves. The song's female narrator acts out as she struggles with a break-up, which leads people to begin taking notice of her behavior ("Word got around to the barflies and the Baptists"). When her mother finds out, she responds by scolding her daughter and telling her to regain her composure ("Run and hide your crazy and start actin’ like a lady"). The second verse states that the narrator sacrifices her "spotless reputation" in favor of "revenge," which is in contrast with the way her mother's generation handled such situations ("Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face"), but ultimately she takes matters into her own hands because "[it isn't her] mama's broken heart."
Lambert, in an interview with Taste of Country, said that "Mama's Broken Heart" was the one song on Four the Record she couldn't live without, and that she can relate to the character in the song: "I think we all have at some point or another. Mostly when we’re young. Especially crazy teenage love — you think the world is ending if you break up." She expressed that when she first heard it, "she knew it was special" and wished she would've been the one to write it.
The song received favorable reviews from critics. Ben Foster of Country Universe praised the track, referring favorably to its "deceptively deep" lyrics, Lambert's delivery, and an "engaging [and] off-beat arrangement." Foster rated the song an A, and dubbed it Lambert's best single since 2010's "The House That Built Me." Taste of Country's Billy Dukes awarded the song 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5, comparing it favorably to Lambert's previous hits "Kerosene" and "Gunpowder & Lead" and favorably commenting on the sparse yet suspenseful nature of the production.
"Mama's Broken Heart" debuted at number 54 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week ending January 5, 2013, and debuted at number 46 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending January 12, 2013. It also debuted at number 89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of February 9, 2013, and at number 76 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of February 9, 2013. The song became Lambert's highest-peaking single on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 20 until 2014's "Somethin' Bad" made it her second highest-peaking single on that chart. The song has sold 1,960,000 copies in the US as of September 2015.
Mama's Broken Heart
Miranda Lambert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I screamed his name 'til the neighbors called the cops
I numbed the pain at the expense of my liver
Don't know what I did next all I know, I couldn't stop
Word got around to the barflies and the Baptists
My mama's phone started ringin' off the hook
I can hear her now sayin' she ain't gonna have it
Don't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look
Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised ya better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
I wish I could be just a little less dramatic like a
Kennedy when Camelot went down in flames
Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches
When the fire trucks show up and there's nobody else to blame
Can't get revenge and keep a spotless reputation
Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make
My mama came from a softer generation
Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face
Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised ya better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
Powder your nose, paint your toes line your lips and keep 'em closed
Cross your legs, dot your I's and never let 'em see you cry
Go and fix your make up well it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised ya better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
In "Mama's Broken Heart," Miranda Lambert depicts a woman who is processing the aftermath of a break-up in a rather chaotic way. She starts by cutting her bangs with rusty kitchen scissors and screaming her ex's name until the police arrive. Eventually, rumors about her behavior begin circulating in town, and her mother starts receiving phone calls from concerned friends and acquaintances. Her mother thinks that her daughter needs to clean up her act, referencing an adage from her generation and the importance of saving face. The chorus repeats the advice to "go and fix your makeup" and to "hide your crazy and start acting like a lady."
Throughout the song, Lambert makes several references to the expectations placed upon women and society's pressure to maintain a certain image, appearance, and behavior. Knowing how to "cross your legs, dot your I's" and keeping your feelings hidden behind a perfectly maintained exterior are tactics used to be successful in life. However, the singer acknowledges that sometimes it is okay not to meet these expectations, that sometimes you have to "get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face." While the mother believes that the daughter has to maintain a facade, the singer insists that "this ain't my mama's broken heart."
The song seems to be a commentary on the societal expectations of women and the ways they deal with emotional distress, adding to the heartbreak caused by the breakup. This song highlights the double standards women face, and how there is often immense pressure to act in a certain way, even in response to emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
I cut my bangs with some rusty kitchen scissors
I impulsively changed my appearance in a reckless way as a means of coping with my emotional distress
I screamed his name 'til the neighbors called the cops
I expressed my anger in a public and disruptive way, causing concern for others
I numbed the pain at the expense of my liver
I chose to drink heavily as a way of numbing my emotional pain, despite the dangerous consequences to my health
Don't know what I did next all I know, I couldn't stop
I acted impulsively without concern for the consequences, fueled by my inability to control my emotions
Word got around to the barflies and the Baptists
News of my behavior spread far and wide, reaching both those who frequent bars and those who are devoutly religious
My mama's phone started ringin' off the hook
My mother received an overwhelming amount of phone calls from concerned friends and family members
I can hear her now sayin' she ain't gonna have it
My mother expressed her disapproval of my behavior and made it clear that she would not tolerate it any longer
Don't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look
My mother placed a great deal of importance on maintaining a positive appearance in spite of any negative emotions I might be feeling
Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
My mother urged me to improve my appearance and suggested that my emotional distress was only due to a breakup, implying that it was not worthy of such a dramatic response
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
My mother wanted me to suppress my emotions and present myself in a more composed and socially acceptable manner
Raised ya better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart
My mother expected me to maintain my composure at all times, even when dealing with difficult emotions or situations
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
I am not going to handle my emotions in the same way my mother did, even if it means breaking social norms or expectations
I wish I could be just a little less dramatic like a
I acknowledge that my behavior is dramatic and wish that I could be more composed and level-headed
Kennedy when Camelot went down in flames
I idealize the controlled and dignified response of the Kennedys to the loss of their political power
Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches
I accept responsibility for my own impulsive actions and the negative consequences that follow
When the fire trucks show up and there's nobody else to blame
I recognize that I am the source of my own problems and cannot blame others for my own destructive behavior
Can't get revenge and keep a spotless reputation
I realize that seeking revenge will ruin my reputation and public image, and must choose between the two
Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make
I understand that revenge can be a tempting option when dealing with emotional pain, even if it comes with consequences
My mama came from a softer generation
My mother grew up in a time where social norms were more conservative and emotional expression was often viewed as unacceptable
Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face
My mother was taught to suppress her emotions and present a stoic exterior as a way of avoiding social criticism or ridicule
Powder your nose, paint your toes line your lips and keep 'em closed
My mother emphasized the importance of presenting a polished appearance and not revealing one's true emotions or thoughts
Cross your legs, dot your I's and never let 'em see you cry
My mother wanted me to maintain a dignified and composed demeanor even in private, and never let others see my emotional vulnerability
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Anthem Entertainment, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brandy Lynn Clark, Shane Mcanally, Kacey Musgraves
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@starrshine144
The lyrics just in case you need it:
I cut my bangs with some rusty kitchen scissors
I screamed his name til the neighbors called the cops
I numbed the pain at the expense of my liver
Don't know what I did next all I know, I couldn't stop
Word got around to the barflies and the baptists
My mama's phone started ringin' off the hook
I can hear her now sayin' she ain't gonna have it
Don't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look
Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart,
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
I wish I could be just a little less dramatic like a,
Kennedy when Camelot went down in flames
Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches
When the fire trucks show up and there's nobody else to blame
Can't get revenge and keep a spotless reputation
Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make
My mama came from a softer generation
Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face
Go and fix your make up girl it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart,
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
Powder your nose, paint your toes line your lips and keep 'em closed
Cross your legs, dot your I's and never let 'em see you cry
Go and fix your make up well it's, just a break up run an'
Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I
Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart,
But this ain't my mama's broken heart
@madisonwalker1759
These are songs to help you get over breakups and each of the stages during the breakup
1: Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
2: Die From A Broken Heart - Maddie & Tae
3: I Hope - Gabby Barrett
4: Mammas Broken Heart - Miranda Lambert
5: White Horse - Taylor Swift
6: You Broke Up With Me - Walker Haynes
@SouthernBelleTreasures
My favorite lines:
"Don’t matter how you feel, it only matters how you look
"Go and fix your make up, girl, it’s just a break up
Run and hide your crazy and start actin’ like a lady
'Cause I raised you better, gotta keep it together
Even when you fall apart
But this ain’t my mama’s broken heart
"Can’t get revenge and keep a spotless reputation
Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make
My mama came from a softer generation
Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face"
@jaygay458
I like how this song is less about the actual breakup and more about the tendency of our older parents to coach us into suppressing our emotions like they were taught to do.
@reneebarnes8222
My mama was the same way
@joannasnyder3744
Yes my mama always said "People like a nice girl" and that would just make me madder.
@zsofiabacso1921
Well said Jay Gay, thank you.
@2017subwaygirl
Yeah. This song, for me, is about the fact that it has been done this and that way in the past. I put my crazy out for the neighbours to see. No reason to care about the neighbors.
@tenivalentine9205
@Joanna Snyder i know how you feel.
@DonineH
My mother is Southern and this song is 100% on the money. This and "Hush Hush" just about sums up Southern mothers .
@IrisIleka
BRO SAME
@skasisparadigm1
Sameeeeee
@sandyfrom6476
yep!!!