Having hailed originally from hail-ridden Kansas, our ears are always open for songs evocative of small-town Midwest life.  Texan newcomer-with-a-bullet Kacey Musgraves nailed that life this year with her sad-and-sage song Merry Go ‘Round.  Musgraves has confessed her admiration for the great John Prine, and Prine’s positive influence on her lyrics is immediately apparent on Merry Go “Round (“Cause Mama’s hooked on Mary Kay, Brother’s hooked on Mary Jane, and Daddy’s hooked on Mary two doors down”).   Check out the fresh-faced Musgraves in the video for her phenomenally well-crafted song.  The last line always hurts ya in the heart(land).

Merry Go ‘Round:

“If you ain’t got two kids by 21,
You’re probably gonna die alone
At least that’s what tradition told you

And it don’t matter if you don’t believe,
Come Sunday morning you best be there
In the front row, like you’re s’posed to

Same hurt in every heart
Same trailer, different park

Mama’s hooked on Mary Kay
Brother’s hooked on Mary Jane
And Daddy’s hooked on Mary two doors down

Mary Mary quite contrary,
We get bored so we get married
And just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry go ’round and ’round and ’round we go,
Where it stops nobody knows,
And it ain’t slowin’ down, this merry go ’round

We think the first time’s good enough,
So we hold on to high school love,
Say we won’t end up like our parents

Tiny little boxes in a row,
Ain’t want you want it’s what you know,
Just happy in the shoes you’re wearin’

Same checks we’re always cashin’,
To buy a little more distraction

Cause Mama’s hooked on Mary Kay
Brother’s hooked on Mary Jane
Daddy’s hooked on Mary two doors down

Mary Mary quite contrary,
We get bored so we get married
And just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry go ’round and ’round and ’round we go,
Where we stop nobody knows
And it ain’t slowin’ down, this merry go ’round

Mary Mary quite contrary,
We’re so bored until we’re buried
And just like dust we settle in this town
On this broken merry go ’round,
Merry go ’round

Jack and Jill went up the hill,
Jack burned out on booze and pills,
And Mary had a little lamb,
Mary just don’t give a damn no more”