'Giver / Taker' by Kacey Musgraves - Lyrics & Meaning

When Kacey Musgraves gifted us with her 2024 album's title track, 'Deeper Well', there was so much to unpack within its lines.

Though most were hung up by the song's second verse about "waking and baking" and "gravity bongs", there's a line in the second chorus – "There's two kinds of people / One is a giver and one's always tryin' to take / All they can take" – that guides us to a song later down on the album's tracklist.

The fifth song on Deeper Well, 'Giver / Taker' is a song that's drowning in infatuation for a partner, and she's willing to take everything they've got if that's what it takes.

Opening with a slow, calming acoustic guitar, which goes between picking and strumming, the song opens with Musgraves' award-winning, honey-dipped vocals front and center. With a touch of reverb, the words echo across the track as just her and the guitar play through the first verse.

As we arrive at the chorus, a male voice joins in to offer some complimentary background vocals while some light instrumentation builds around their voices.

Once we get to the second verse, the makings of a full band fill in, creating much of the same energy that we fell in love with on Musgraves' lauded Golden Hour record.

In fact, if you weren't paying too close attention, you'd almost be tricked into thinking this was a stripped-back vault track from the Grammy-winning 2018 project.

"Sundown and I’m lonely in this house
It’s feeling one dimensional to me
We’ve been trying hard to figure out
Give and take and how to be
but don’t you see"

The song starts by finding Musgraves at home at nightfall, seemingly addressing her partner.

Noting that things are feeling rather flat and boring, she says that they've been going through a bit of a turbulent time of late as they try to navigate the give and take dynamics in their relationship.

"I would give you everything that you wanted
And I would never ask for any of it back
And if I could take only as much as I needed
I would take everything you had"

In an attempt to explain her position to her partner, Musgraves shares that she has no problem giving them "everything that [they] wanted" and wouldn't even ask for anything back.

Then, on the flip side, she adds that if she were allowed the same in return, she would take everything they have to offer as well. Perhaps this is an even trade? Or maybe she's being overly selfish? Who's to say!

"Sunrise and you’re lying next to me
Wrap me in your arms like I’m made of glass
I need all your love
Not just one piece
Hoping that it ain’t too much for me to ask"

The pair awake the next day in bed with Musgraves begging for them to wrap her up in her arms as delicately as possible. At the end of the day, she realizes that she can't just settle for partial love.

She needs all of them and everything they can give in order for this to work, but she's hoping that it isn't too much to ask or expect from them.

"Don’t wanna share
I want it all
All of the time
Tell me right now
You feel the same
And that you’re mine
Baby"

As we get to the bridge, Musgraves is no longer sugar-coating her needs. She isn't interested in sharing her love interest, and she wants all of them all of the time.

In one final plea, she asks her partner to reciprocate her feelings and intentions by saying that they're all hers and she's all theirs, too.

Sundown and I’m lonely in this house
It’s feeling one dimensional to me
We’ve been trying hard to figure out
Give and take and how to be
but don’t you see

I would give you everything that you wanted
And I would never ask for any of it back
And if I could take only as much as I needed
I would take everything you had

Sunrise and you’re lying next to me
Wrap me in your arms like I’m made of glass
I need all your love
Not just one piece
Hoping that it ain’t too much for me to ask

Cause I would give you everything that you wanted
And I would never ask for any of it back
And if I could take only as much as I needed
I would take everything you had

Don’t wanna share
I want it all
All of the time
Tell me right now
You feel the same
And that you’re mine
Baby

Don’t you know
I’d give you everything that you wanted
And I would never ask for any of it back
And if I could take only as much as I needed
I would take everything
I would take everything you had
Everything you have

––

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