By: Sadie Christine
If “Best Years of My Life” by Pistol Annies has been all over your FYP for the past couple of months, here is your starter pack for some of the best hidden tracks by country powerhouse group Pistol Annies.
Made up of three successful, multi-talented singer-songwriters, Miranda Lambert, Angaleena Presley, and Ashley Monroe, Pistol Annies has released four studio albums filled with chart-toppers such as “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On,” “Hell on Heels,” and “Takin’ Pills.”
Just like we did for our Kacey Musgraves Deep Cut Starter Pack, which you can read here, we’ll be sharing our favourite deep cuts from each Pistol Annies album.
What are some of your favourites? Let us know on socials!
Hell on Heels
Housewife’s Prayer: Throughout many of their songs, the Annies are not shy talking about topics that might be uncomfortable but are truthful and relatable. “Housewife’s Prayer” is an example of that. This song expresses a potential internal dialogue a woman might have in motherhood and the hard days that can come with it.
Beige: When three country songwriters come together, of course they are going to create tracks that have powerful storytelling elements and a story you can follow along with.
Family Feud: I don’t know if it is appropriate to think of this song as a bop… but from the catchy melodies to the way the hook perfectly fits together, this song, along with all the rest on this list, showcases the Annies’ talented songwriting and storytelling.
Lemon Drop: This song is a blend of optimism and sarcasm, which feels very real, especially if you are trying to see the brighter side of something while waiting for the sweet part. “My life is like a lemon drop, I’m sucking on the bitter to get to the sweet part. I know there are better days ahead.”
Annie Up
Being Pretty Ain’t Pretty: Once again, something the Pistol Annies do so well is talk about topics that are true to the female experience. This song touches on unrealistic beauty standards and the tiring reality that trying to maintain them can have on a woman.
Trading One Heartbreak for Another: The way the Pistol Annies wrap up the message of the song in the chorus paints a perfect picture of what the song is about and showcases the clever way it is explained. This song is about a marriage or partnership that was exhausting for the mother, and she now feels freedom and relief that he is gone, but the absence of the father is hurting her child. “I’m finally alive, but it’s killing who I’m living for.”
Blues, You’re a BuzzKill: This track is about how sadness sometimes doesn’t fully go away, and how that feeling of being blue can push through even happy moments and end up bringing you down.
Don’t Talk About Him, Tina: Rooted in friendship, this song is about reminding your friend that they’re better off without him, and that it’s okay to move on rather than hold on to him and his memory.
I Hope You’re the End of My Story: By the title itself, this song is clearly a love song, but it also carries an undertone of caution. Some might interpret it as hoping your current relationship is the one that lasts and the final chapter in the search for love.
“I’ll keep on turning the pages, Oh what a story to tell, You’ll still be my sweetheart when everything ages, You’ll be the last book on my shelf.”
Interstate Gospel
5 Acres of Turnips: Angaleena Presley started this song in a hotel room after driving through the English countryside all day. She was feeling inspired and thinking about home in Kentucky. She describes the song as being about home, secrets, and seeing beauty in the darkness.
When I Was His Wife: This song goes hand in hand with “Best Years of My Life,” telling the story of a marriage or relationship that has ended. The track explores the things you might tell yourself while you’re married, but after it’s over, you may begin to question whether those things were really the truth.
Leaver’s Lullaby: This song explores themes of freedom and reflects on how leaving may not be a reflection of the other person so much as it is simply who the leaver is and their inability to change those tendencies.“It ain’t worth the time that it’s gonna take to change me.”
Milkman: Exploring themes of mother-daughter relationships and freedom, this song describes a mother judging her daughter for her choices, while perhaps secretly wishing she had been as free as her daughter. It suggests that the mother may be projecting her own regrets while comparing the very different outcomes both women face.
Masterpiece: This track reflects on a relationship and the pain of walking away despite all the happy memories and love that once existed. “Baby, we were just a masterpiece.”
This Too Shall Pass: As the title suggests, this too shall pass, whether it is a roadblock in a relationship or in your personal life, and it serves as a reminder not to give up and to keep pushing through.
“Best Years of My Life” becoming a trending song on TikTok has really opened the door for a whole new fan base to explore Pistol Annies and the incredible music they have released throughout the years.
What is your favourite Pistol Annies track? Let us know on socials!
Stay Wild, Stay Free, Stay Country
