Same Hurt In Every Heart

Kacey Musgraves “Merry Go ‘Round”

It’s really hard to pull off a song that is this cynical in its depiction of dreary small town life while still being empathetic toward the people who live there. Musgraves sings from the perspective of someone who is eager to get the hell out of town, but fully understands the inertia that keeps people from moving on and potentially finding something at least just a bit better. She can’t help but seem a little disappoint in everyone’s lack of ambition or will to overcome their vices, but she sings with the sadness of someone who has given up on helping people she cares about with stern tough love.

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