This Town
Musgraves Kacey Lyrics

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We had a girl that came in with a drug overdose the other day
And she got real belligerent
And she bit one of the nurses (Oh man)
And, I mean, she bit (ohhh) - you could see every tooth (nooo! hehe)
It took two or three of us to get her off of her
It's a crazy Wednesday

We finally got a flashing light, they put it in last year

And everybody got real happy when the grocery store got beer
And last time the census men came a-knockin', we were busting at the seams
Aw, but don't you forget it, as big as we're getting
This town's too small to be mean

Big enough for a zipcode, a VFW
A good Mexican restaurant, a beauty shop or two
Got a Methodist, a Baptist, and a Church of the Nazarene
Aw, but don't you forget it, as big as we're getting
This town's too small to be mean
Yeah, it's too dang small to be mean

Too small to be lying
Way too small to cheat
Way too small for secrets
'Cause they're way too hard to keep
And somebody's mama knows somebody's cousin
And somebody's sister knows somebody's husband
And somebody's daughter knows somebody's brother
And around here, we all look out for each other

You'll end up in the paper, wreck your family name
What goes around comes back around by Friday's football game
We only got one sheriff, but we all know how to keep the peace
Aw, and don't you forget it, as big as we're getting
This town's too small to be mean

Too small to be lying
Way too small to cheat
Way too small for secrets
'Cause they're way too hard to keep
And somebody's mama knows somebody's cousin
And somebody's sister knows somebody's husband
And somebody's daughter knows somebody's brother
And around here, we all look out for each other

Yeah, somebody's mama knows somebody's cousin
And somebody's sister knows somebody's husband

And somebody's daughter knows somebody's brother
And around here, we all look out for each other

Overall Meaning

This Town by Kacey Musgraves is a beautifully written song about small-town life. The first verse sheds light on the emergency situation of a drug overdose which highlights the magnitude of the crisis too commonly overlooked in small towns. The use of 'real belligerent' and 'you could see every tooth' makes the listener feel a sense of urgency and chaos. The second half describes the peaceful and friendly nature of the small town. The flashing light is a symbol of progress to the people, while the mention of a census shows that the town is slowly expanding. Despite that, the chorus reminds the listener of how tight-knit the community is and that secrets are hard to keep. The song conveys that everyone in the town is connected to each other, everyone knows each other's secrets, and they have each other's backs. Even with the town getting bigger, they are still too small to be mean.

The message of the song's chorus is that if you live in a small town, you need to be careful because everything you do will impact others. Gossip spreads quickly, and people are watching, and judging each other, so it's important to be mindful of your actions. The song reinforces the idea of being accountable to those around you. It also emphasizes the importance of looking out for each other in tight-knit communities. When people know everyone in their town, they tend to treat each other better, take care of one another, and be more respectful towards others.

Overall, This Town by Kacey Musgraves emphasizes the contrasting nature of small towns where everything is shared. They can be chaotic and friendly, magnificent and humble, and they can be intimidating and endearing all at once.

Line by Line Meaning

We had a girl that came in with a drug overdose the other day
Recently, a girl was brought in for treatment after overdosing on drugs

And she got real belligerent
She became aggressive and uncooperative

And she bit one of the nurses (Oh man)
In her agitated state, she bit and injured one of the nurses

And, I mean, she bit (ohhh) - you could see every tooth (nooo! hehe)
Her bite was so powerful that one could see every one of her teeth

It took two or three of us to get her off of her
Several people had to work together to restrain and calm her down

It's a crazy Wednesday
The events of that day were unusual and hectic

We finally got a flashing light, they put it in last year
A traffic light was installed in the town just a year ago

And everybody got real happy when the grocery store got beer
The town's residents were pleased when the local grocery store started stocking beer

And last time the census men came a-knockin', we were busting at the seams
When census takers visited last, the town was growing and becoming crowded

Aw, but don't you forget it, as big as we're getting This town's too small to be mean
The town may be growing, but it's still a small enough community that people treat each other with kindness

Big enough for a zipcode, a VFW A good Mexican restaurant, a beauty shop or two Got a Methodist, a Baptist, and a Church of the Nazarene
Despite being small, the town has the essentials, including a post office, Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, good Mexican restaurant, a couple of beauty shops, and three churches

Yeah, it's too dang small to be mean
Given the close-knit nature of the town, there's no room for rudeness or hostility among the residents

Too small to be lying Way too small to cheat Way too small for secrets 'Cause they're way too hard to keep
The town's size means that people know each other well enough that lying, cheating, and keeping secrets are nearly impossible

And somebody's mama knows somebody's cousin And somebody's sister knows somebody's husband And somebody's daughter knows somebody's brother And around here, we all look out for each other
In the small town, people are closely connected through extended family and acquaintances, and they make an effort to care for one another

You'll end up in the paper, wreck your family name What goes around comes back around by Friday's football game
If someone causes trouble in the town, it won't stay secret and can have serious consequences, including damaging one's reputation and affecting one's family

We only got one sheriff, but we all know how to keep the peace
With the town's small population, there's only one sheriff, but the residents are good at maintaining a peaceful community

Aw, and don't you forget it, as big as we're getting This town's too small to be mean
Despite the town's growth, its residents still value kindness and respect for one another

Yeah, somebody's mama knows somebody's cousin And somebody's sister knows somebody's husband And somebody's daughter knows somebody's brother And around here, we all look out for each other
Reiterating the message that the town's residents are interconnected and supportive of each other

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KACEY MUSGRAVES, LUKE LAIRD, BRANDY CLARK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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