Kacey Musgraves, a country music star, is currently in the midst of her “Middle of Nowhere Tour” throughout the United States. On Sept. 12, she played at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Alongside my sister and friends, for my third time, I had the opportunity to watch Musgraves perform!
I had a wonderful time singing and dancing, but her songs also inspired me to reflect on my own life. She reminded me of some important life lessons and values. Here are my top four songs and takeaways from Kacey Musgraves’ “Middle of Nowhere Tour.”
- “Everybody Wants to Be A Cowboy” and career choices
Musgraves opens the concert with “Everybody Wants to Be A Cowboy,” where she speaks to the feeling of wanting something until you realize how much work it requires. This sentiment feels more relevant than ever as I am in my early 20s trying to figure out what kind of person I want to be. It is important to remember that many careers look shiny from the outside, but each career comes with lifestyle choices. There is no avoiding discomfort so I must learn to embrace change, challenge and uncertainty.
- “Justified” and relationships
Musgraves only performs one song off of her album “star-crossed” which is the song “justified.” She sings, “If I need just a little, more time to deal with the fact, that you should have treated me right, then I am more than just a little justified.” In life, we often question why people make certain actions and push ourselves to know what we feel right away. We cannot change the behavior of others or make someone treat us better. I try to acknowledge when I am justified in feeling hurt and then move on so I do not linger in relationships that do not support me.
- “Loneliest Girl” and enjoying your own company
One of my sister and I’s favorite songs from the album “Middle of Nowhere” is “Loneliest Girl,” in which Musgraves sings about the joy of choosing where she spends her energy. She starts by saying, “I’m getting better at being alone,” which is a skill that takes time to develop but can have positive effects. I try to practice going solo to events, restaurants, workout classes and more. By doing these activities alone, I do not have to rely on someone else to have fun.
- “Follow Your Arrow” and not letting someone else’s opinion dictate your life
In August of 2019, I attended my first ever concert for Musgraves’ “Oh, What A World Tour.” She performed “Follow Your Arrow,” which I instantly fell in love with. As a freshman in high school, it was impactful to hear someone sing about the importance of making your own choices and not following a crowd. As I inch towards graduation, the choices for what I do with my life seem to be exploding. Musgraves’ song and performance remind me that I cannot please everyone with my choices and that I should focus on my own intuition more than what other people think of me.
One of the most inspiring aspects of Kacey Musgraves’ songs and life is that she lives authentically to herself. In a world filled with trends related to clothes, food, bodies and lifestyles, she reminds her audience to stay true to themselves and their interests. By listening to Musgraves, I have learned to “follow your arrow wherever it points,” that “I can pour whatever I want in my cup” and that there is “always been a rainbow hanging over your head.”