'Deeper Well' by Kacey Musgraves - Lyrics and Meaning

The moment that we've been waiting for has finally arrived: a new Kacey Musgraves record is on its way.

A country staple who over the years has transcended the boundaries of the genre and become a household name, her new album, Deeper Well, is slated for release on March 15.

However, the Texas native was kind enough to surprise us with an early taste of the music to come, providing us with the ethereal title track and an accompanying music video.

Taking us on a journey of peaceful guitar and stacked vocals to high heaven, Musgraves recounts some of her lessons learned over the last few years and sets herself up to make a triumphant return to the forefront of country music.

One of the most celebrated lyricists in the format today, Musgraves finds familiar company on 'Deeper Well'.

Both on the writing and producing side, the song – and assumedly the record as a whole – are credited to Musgraves, Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian. This dream team is the same trio behind her career-defining Golden Hour project, as well as 2021's star-crossed.

While Golden Hour has withstood the test of time and cemented itself as one of the strongest albums in modern country music history, it masterfully balanced pop and country elements throughout. On the other hand, its follow-up aired more on the pop side, delving deep into harsh synth and electronic tracks.

With this in mind, it's been a point of curiosity as to which direction this 2024 project would take, but after listening to its first offering, 'Deeper Well' is reminiscent of the Golden Hour era, fit with acoustic instrumentation in the form of a plucky acoustic guitar and light drum beat that carry the nearly four-minute tune.

It's peaceful and understated, opening with a slight orchestral swell the band and her mesmerizing vocals come through as angelic as ever. The song also gives off a bit of a psychedelic feeling thanks to her stacked vocals, once again reflective of some of the charms found in Golden Hour.

As has become standard with Musgraves, 'Deeper Well' invites listeners into a comforting embrace as her honey-dipped tone wraps you up and makes you feel at home.

My Saturn has returned
When I turned twenty-seven
Everything started to change
Took a long time, but I learned
There's two kinds of people
One is a giver and one's always tryin' to take
All they can take

From the first line, 'Deeper Well' signals that Musgaves is undergoing a period of change and contemplation.

The phrase "Saturn returning" is said to be a period of really figuring out who are and what your legacy will be on earth. As noted in the song, Musgraves explains that this process first started as she turned 27.

Now at the age of 35, she notes that over the years she's learned that the world is full of givers and takers, which is a lesson that seems to have been a central one to her recently as we move into the chorus.

So I'm sayin' goodbye to the people that I feel
Are real good at wastin' my time
No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe
You go your way and I'll go mine
It's been a real good time
But you got dark energy, somethin' I can't unsee
And I've got to take care of myself
I found a deeper well

With this newfound discovery in mind, she sings that she's deciding to let go of the people who she describes are "real good at wastin' [her] time". However, she makes a point to say that she doesn't regret the relationships, but rather that both parties would just be better going their separate ways.

This particular section could be in reference to her ex-husband Ruston Kelly, whom she divorced in 2020, but it's vague enough for us to assume that it could also be about previous friendships or other romantic partnerships from the last three years.

Musgraves goes on to say that she needs to choose herself first and that, by doing this, she's found a deeper well. In this context, this could mean that she's found a deeper source of happiness, joy or meaning, as inferred by her Saturn returning.

I used to wake and bake
Roll out of bed, hit the gravity bong that I made
And start the day
For a while, it got me by
Everything I did seemed better when I was high
I don't know why

It's no secret that Musgraves has been an avid marijuana user throughout the years, as well as gone on "guided trips" with mushrooms, which she credits in helping her creative process.

With this second verse, she admits to these things once again, explaining that she used to wake up every day and smoke to start the day with a high.

She notes that "for a while, it got [her] by", but by talking in past tense, it feels like this is a pass time that she no longer partakes in.

So I'm getting rid of the habits that I feel
Are real good at wastin' my time
No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe
It's natural when things lose their shine
So other things can glow
I've gotten older now, I know
How to take care of myself
I found a deeper well

Just as our hunch predicted, Musgraves opens up the second chorus by saying that she's kicking some of the habits that she now considers to be a waste of her time.

Similar to the last chorus, she makes a point to say that has no regrets, but rather realizes that its okay that things don't always feel bright, shiny and happy like they did when she was in those altered states of mind. In fact, by taking on this stance of sobriety, Musgraves is realizing that it allows space for other bursts of color and happiness to come through even more vibrantly.

Now that she's lived a little more life and gone through a few more growing pains, she's better aware of how to take care of herself and doesn't feel like she needs those substances to get through or find joy.

She's found a deeper well that those things just can't compete with.

When I was growing up
We had what we needed, shoes on our feet
But the world was as flat as a plate
And that's okay
The things I was taught only took me so far
Had to figure the rest out myself

As the song draws to a close, Musgraves takes us back to her hometown of Golden, Texas, singing that she and her family always had what they needed to get by.

The last few lines are a bit trickier to decipher as they could mean a variety of things.

The easiest route would be to say that she grew up hearing and believing the conspiracy theory that the earth is actually flat. However, after going out and seeing it herself, she's figured out that not everything she was told as a kid is true and that she has to figure out what she believes for herself as opposed to blindly trusting others.

On the other hand, music is meant to be interpretive... so we'll let you be the judge of that.

And then I found
I found a deeper well

The easy answer so far is not much.

As she announced Deeper Well on socials, she noted: "It’s a collection of songs I hold very dear to my heart. I hope it makes a home in all of your hearts, too."

Quickly following the official album unveiling, Musgraves also appeared in an interview with beloved host and music critic Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, detailing the process behind creating Deeper Well, its title track, her departure from star-crossed and more.

"Those words, 'deeper well,' just fell out. We were up in New York City writing in one of the best studios I've ever been in, which is Electric Lady [in] Greenwich Village." She continued, "Usually, most of the time [my songs] start as a title but I think that one just came from just conversation. The lines kept stumbling out and when we wrote it that day, it was really special to me... I just think it sums up where I'm at."

Going on to highlight how the song represents the crux of the human experience, she adds: "‘Deeper Well’ cuts to the core of the human experience for those that are wanting to experience a deep relationship with themselves and also other humans that are existing. The older I get, the more I realize that if you don't know yourself and you don't have a deep relationship with yourself, you're not going to have that with anybody else."

Explaining her return to her countrier roots, she teases that the upcoming album, as a whole, speaks to a softer side of the Grammy-winning entertainer.

"I felt like I was in a softer place myself after star-crossed, and going through a divorce, and doing a lot of therapy, and honestly falling in love again and opening myself back up to the human experience," she shares. "These songs just kind of started coming out.""

My Saturn has returned
When I turned twenty-seven
Everything started to change
Took a long time, but I learned
There's two kinds of people
One is a giver and one's always tryin' to take
All they can take

So I'm sayin' goodbye to the people that I feel
Are real good at wastin' my time
No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe
You go your way and I'll go mine
It's been a real good time
But you got dark energy, somethin' I can't unsee
And I've got to take care of myself
I found a deeper well

I used to wake and bake
Roll out of bed, hit the gravity bong that I made
And start the day
For a while, it got me by
Everything I did seemed better when I was high
I don't know why

So I'm getting rid of the habits that I feel
Are real good at wastin' my time
No regrets, baby, I just think that maybe
It's natural when things lose their shine
So other things can glow
I've gotten older now, I know
How to take care of myself
I found a deeper well

When I was growing up
We had what we needed, shoes on our feet
But the world was as flat as a plate
And that's okay
The things I was taught only took me so far
Had to figure the rest out myself

And then I found
I found a deeper well

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