Entertainment

Kacey Musgraves Tells Us To Mind Our Own Biscuits

by Alex Kritselis

I don't know about you, but I've been rockin' out to Kacey Musgraves' new single, "Biscuits," ever since it premiered online last week. The toe-tappin' track (which hits iTunes on March 17) is the first offering from Musgraves' as-yet-untitled follow-up to Same Trailer, Different Park — her critically acclaimed album that won two Grammy Awards in 2014. Despite her industry accolades, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter is still on the hunt for her first big hit. Fortunately, I think this one could be it! After all, there's a lot more to Kacey Musgraves' "Biscuits" lyrics than first meets the eye.

Let me explain...

For me, part of the power of “Biscuits'" lyrics lies in their ability to make us reflect on our own actions. We've all made "someone else feel small" at some point in our lives, and it's really important to both acknowledge and own those mistakes. If we don't, how can we expect to learn from them and move forward?

But more than that, the way I see it, "Biscuits'" clever hook (“Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy") encourages us to respect one another. It's not suggesting that we completely disengage from other people’s lives or totally abandon our moral compasses — it's reminding us that, in general, we’re all just trying to do the best we can in this life, both for ourselves and for our loved ones. We have to stop judging each other and tearing each other down.

In a perfect world, diversity would be appreciated and celebrated every single day... but at the very, very least, it must be respected. We’re all individuals with unique perspectives, desires, and needs, and it’s not our place to tell someone else how to live. That, I think, is the message at the heart of "Biscuits." That is what makes it such a great song.

Check out the full lyrics to "Biscuits" below.

1st VERSE:

Taking down your neighbor won't take you any higher

I burned my own damn finger poking someone else's fire

I've never gotten taller making someone else feel small

If you ain't got nothing nice to say, don't say nothing at all

CHORUS:

Just hoe your own row and raise your own babies

Smoke your own smoke and grow your own daisies

Mend your own fences and own your own crazy

Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy

Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy

2nd VERSE:

Nobody's perfect, we've all lost and we've all lied

Most of us have cheated, the rest of us have tried

The holiest of holies even slip from time to time

We've all got dirty laundry hanging on the line

CHORUS

BRIDGE:

Pouring salt in my sugar won't make yours any sweeter

Pissing in my yard ain't gonna make yours any greener

And I wouldn't know about the rocks in your shoes

So I'll just do me and, honey, you can just do you

CHORUS

Image: Giphy