The song I chose to analyze was “Back to Texas” by Kacey Musgraves. This song was written by Musgraves herself and is the first track on her self titled album, released in 2007. This song is written in a country folk style and features a variety of string instruments like the guitar and violin while focusing on homesickness and missing a place that is special to you.
When diving into the analysis of this song, I felt a connection with Musgraves because I understand being homesick and longing for the familiarity of home. Home for me is quite a drive away, and not being able to visit as often as I would like can take an emotional toll. Musgraves is able to portray similar feelings in “Back to Texas” by describing the things that are most important to her about Texas.
Musgraves was born and raised in East Texas in a small town called Golden. Her love for music started at a young age, singing in her church choir at and even writing her first song at the age of nine. By the age of twelve she was playing guitar and making music consistently. By eighteen she had moved to Austin, TX to pursue her song writing and performing dreams, having already released multiple independent albums before signing with a major production company.
The song “Back to Texas” was released on an independent album and highlights the homesickness one can face when chasing their dream and being away from home.
I need some real air to breathe
I hate the way they look at me
A part of me is so far away
And I miss that Southern sky
Love took me where you wanted to go
Down a real bad stretch of road
You leave me here most every night
I can’t stand this cold
You can have these memories
You can try to take me down
You can stay here in hell
As for me, I’m going back to Texas
Give me a one-light town
Put me in a front porch swing
Give me a cold Lone Star in that Texas bar
That’s the way it should be
Lord knows how you’re gonna end
And I won’t let you pull me in
I’ve spent too long away from what I know
You can have these memories
You can try to take me down
You can stay here in hell
As for me, I’m going back to Texas
I’m going back to Texas
Take me home
I’m going home, I’m going home
Musgraves talks about the simplicity of a “one-light town” and the fond memories that come with a “front porch swing” reminding her of home. She mentions needing “real air to breathe” and being able to look at a “Southern sky”, which reminds me of my own experiences. Coming from a small rural town, I can understand the challenges of moving somewhere far away and being surrounded by the city lights and polluted air while just wanting to be surrounded by open fields.
Within this song, Musgraves also sings about getting away from “hell” and going back to Texas. This lyric is a play on a phrase said by Davy Crockett who is most known for his role in the Alamo. Before fighting for Texas’ independence, Crockett was a congressman for the state of Tennessee. It is said that when Crockett lost his election campaign at the hands of other politicians his rebuttal was “You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas.” This attributes to the assumption that people believe Texas is the best there is, highlighting a sense of superiority for those that live there. It also shows how enticing the Texan culture is to “outsiders”. This seems like a slight enigma: how can Texas be the best there is but also not be welcoming of outsiders? However for the people who grew up there, it could be the best place on earth. This line also attributes to the belief that Texas is a safe place for Musgraves, and it provides a comfort that no other location can, showing how Musgraves is proud of her Texan identity.
After many more albums and growth, one thing that Musgraves came to be known for is challenging the original conservative ideas that surrounded her growing up. She is not afraid to tell the world the realities of her childhood or the challenges that many people face growing up in a lower income area in her newer albums. This may ideology challenges the Texas-ness that Musgraves shows in some of her other songs, but I think that its important to acknowledge that sentimental places can still have faults. Despite this, Musgraves is still able to show that Texas provides comfort and safety like no other place can.
Sources
“Kacey Musgraves Biography, Songs, & Albums.” AllMusic, 2022, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kacey-musgraves-mn0002077491/biography.
“Kacey Musgraves – Kacey Musgraves.” Discogs, https://www.discogs.com/release/9326736-Kacey-Musgraves-Kacey-Musgraves.
“Kacey Musgraves Lyrics ‘Back to Texas.’” AZLyrics.com, https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/kaceymusgraves/backtotexas.html.
Snapes, Laura. “Kacey Musgraves: ‘I’d Sound Country Even If I Didn’t Want to’.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6 Aug. 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/aug/06/kacey-musgraves-sound-country-even-if-didnt-want-to.
Strong, W.F. “‘You May All Go to Hell’ and 9 More Great Texas Quotes.” Texas Standard, 1 June 2016, https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/you-may-all-go-to-hell-and-9-more-great-texas-quotes/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CYou%20may%20all%20go%20to,bid%20for%20the%20U.S.%20Congress.
