Deeper into the well.
Today, Kacey Musgraves released the deluxe edition of her fifth studio album released earlier this year Deeper Well, titled Deeper Into the Well, which features seven new songs and two features from Leon Bridges and Tiny Habits on “Superbloom” and “Perfection,” respectively.
But the easy and immediate standout to me is a song called “Arm’s Length,” and before I even looked at the credits, I knew it had to be a co-write by Kacey along with longtime collaborators Shane McAnally and Josh Obsorne because of how superior it is.
And after looking into it, that proved to be the case, and Sarah Buxton is listed as a writer as well. For me, “Arm’s Length” harkens back to some of Kacey’s early music that I love so much in terms of the deep, reflective nature and simple production that incorporates acoustic guitar and banjo.
The subject matter finds Kacey realizing that, even though the did everything to make a relationship work and trusted her ex to do the same, fighting to keep their love alive, he was unwilling to give as much as her or let her in at all, and that’s why it ultimately failed:
“I guess I thought I knew you, but you don’t know yourself
My heart was on the table, yours was on the shelf
You promised me a castle, but all you built were walls
I treated you like a king, but even kingdoms fall
I couldn’t love you into loving me
Keeping me should have been easy, but
Obviously, it just wasn’t easy
I gave you water, but I couldn’t make you drink
Keeping me just within reach
Always holding me at arm’s length”
I think the subject matter is so relatable, on both sides, probably, and as per the usual with Kacey, Shane and Josh, the lyrics are incredibly brilliant and polished. Along with “The Architect,”(another Kacy, Shane and Josh co-write), it’s easily one of the best songs she’s put out in years and certainly on this album.
They’re literally my dream team, and I would absolutely love to see them do an entire album of just songs they wrote together, though I know that’s wishful thinking, because everything they touch is magic…
Case and point:
“The Architect”
Deeper Well: Deeper into the Well tracklist:
1. “Cardinal”
2. “Deeper Well”
3. “Too Good To Be True”
4. “Moving Out”
5. “Giver/Taker”
6. “Sway”
7. “Dinner With Friends”
8. “Heart Of The Woods”
9. “Jade Green”
10. “The Architect”
11. “Lonely Millionaire”
12. “Heaven Is”
13. “Anime Eyes”
14. “Nothing To Be Scared Of”
15 “Ruthless”
16. “Little Sister”
17. “Flower Child”
18. “Superbloom” (Feat. Leon Bridges)
19. “Perfection” (Feat. Tiny Habits)
20. “Arm’s Length”
21. “Irish Goodbye”
