'Bless Your Heart' by Megan Moroney - Lyrics & Meaning

Released in early October as part of Megan Moroney's 2024 deluxe project, Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine) and already a firm fan-favourite before it was even released, 'Bless Your Heart' had been teased at live shows as far back as January 2024, so it was always expected to be a part of the follow up to her debut album Lucky at some point. When it wasn't included in the original 14 songs, fans began to wonder if there might be a deluxe version coming later that it would feature on.

The song taps into Megan's Georgia roots using "Bless Your Heart," a traditional phrase common to the Southern United States, playing with its nuances and contradictory meanings.

Although "Bless Your Heart" can be used to express genuine sympathy, it's often been noted that it can be used to convey the opposite. In her book The Gifts Of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, the writer Brené Brown describes "Bless Your Heart" as an "incredibly passive-aggressive southern version of sympathy."

She suggests it is primarily used by individuals who wish appear to "be sweet” but is often received as an insult that conveys condescension, derision, or contempt. It is pity being delivered as empathy. When someone blesses someone’s heart, they’re telling them that they feel sorry for them but "Bless Your Heart" also underhandedly lets someone know that the person blessing them believes they wouldn't find themselves in the same circumstances due to their own good fortune and privilege.

Megan Moroney's 'Bless Your Heart' purposefully plays with the double meanings of the famous Southern phrase and the flip side of its "cookie cutter" appearance, as she turns it back round on all her critics and detractors.

Featuring a rhythmic acoustic guitar, a perky banjo, a shuffle beat and a deliciously creamy pedal steel throughout, 'Bless Your Heart' is reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves' production on Same Trailer, Different Park and Pageant Material with a group vocal joining in on lines like "I did" that feel like a nod to the heys and hos of 'Follow Your Arrow.' The group vocals join in on the choruses in full at the end.

The banjo is perhaps purposefully reminiscent of Taylor Swift's 'Mean,' which has similar themes to 'Bless Your Heart.'

It's one of the most upbeat country moments on Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine) and feels cut from the same cloth as songs like 'Nothing Crazy' and 'Sleep on My Side.'

You’re picking me apart you should be picking up your meds (I did) Judging where I’m sleeping from, a messy unmade bed
My dress is short my hair’s too high, I can’t seem to keep a guy and what’s with all that makeup? All she sings about is breakups

Purposefully making use of the double meanings of 'Bless Your Heart,' the song begins with Megan listing off the different ways her detractors have tried to criticise her and put her down: the way she dresses and does her hair; her failed relationships; and what she sings about in her songs.

In the chorus she turns it back on them, playfully using the often passive aggressive implications of the traditionally southern phrase, "Bless Your Heart," to deliver a sugar coated comeback.

Bless your heart, must be hard being as mean as you are
Shooting daggers, throwing stones from a self-appointed throne I’m good with words, could make you hurt but I won’t twist the knife I’m just glad I’m everything you aren’t, bless your heart

The next verse continues with a description of the different ways her critics talk about her and suggests they should turn their attention to their own imperfections and flaws.

You’re trying to wreck my name and you keep running down my friends
You should read re-direct attention to those roots and those split ends

Verse two ends with Megan suggesting they go and find someone else to bad-mouth because she doesn't have time for it.

I think I’ll smile and win some grace, no chance you’ll say it to my face
Go hate somebody else, I’m kinda busy if you can’t tell (playing shows, being pretty)

In the bridge, Megan alludes to the partner of her detractor being a fan of Megan's, at least in some sense, although implying it is perhaps not necessarily because of her music.

Bless your heart and your man who can’t stay out of my DMs

She also references the old saying "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," which, is used to suggest that people who have faults should not criticise other people for having the same faults

Bless your mama and your mouth and the karma coming straight for your glass house

As the last choruses repeat towards the end of the song she references the phrase "See you next Tuesday," a common euphemistic backronym for the word "cunt." Derived from a combination of the letters "C" and "U" which when pronounced aloud sound like “See you,” and the first letters of the words "next" and "Tuesday".

I’ll see you next Tuesday at the bar, bless your heart

It isn't the first time the phrase "Bless Your Heart" appears in one of her songs. It is echoed in the second verse of her song 'I'm Not Pretty' after she describes her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend putting her down because of the way she talks.

Girl, let me guess you don't like how I dress
And you're hatin' on the way I talk (bless your heart)
Give me a break, learn to sew, bake a cake, take a walk
And while you're at it get lost

Megan acknowledged this prior to the release of Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine) when she explained the inspiration behind each of the three new tracks in a post on her socials.

She described 'Bless Your Heart' as being "I'm Not Pretty's older sister, written specifically for the internet (& real life) assholes we all know & love :)."

For more on 'I'm Not Pretty' read Holler's Lyrics and Meaning piece on the song from her debut album, Lucky.

You’re picking me apart you should be picking up your meds (I did) Judging where I’m sleeping from, a messy unmade bed
My dress is short my hair’s too high, I can’t seem to keep a guy And what’s with all that makeup? All she sings about is breakups

-

Bless your heart, must be hard being as mean as you are
Shooting daggers, throwing stones from a self-appointed throne I’m good with words, could make you hurt but I won’t twist the knife I’m just glad I’m everything you aren’t, bless your heart

-

You’re trying to wreck my name and you keep running down my friends
You should read re-direct attention to those roots and those split ends
I think I’ll smile and win some grace, no chance you’ll say it to my face
Go hate somebody else, I’m kinda busy if you can’t tell (playing shows, being pretty)

-

Bless your heart, must be hard being as mean as you are
Shooting daggers, throwing stones from a self-appointed throne I’m good with words, could make you hurt but I won’t twist the knife I’m just glad I’m everything you aren’t, bless your heart

-

Bless your heart and your man who can’t stay out of my DMs
Bless your mama and your mouth and the karma coming straight for your glass house

-

Bless your heart, God it’s hard being as mean as you are
Shooting daggers, throwing stones from a self-appointed bullshit throne I’m good with words, could make you hurt but I won’t twist the knife
I’ll see you next Tuesday at the bar, bless your heart
(Bless your heart x2)

For more on Megan Moroney, see below: