'Hail Mary' by Shaboozey (feat. Sierra Ferrell) – Lyrics & Meaning

Shaboozey's third studio album – the very one that gave us a history-making hit like 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' and enduring bangers, such as 'Drink Don't Need No Mix' and 'Highway' – is getting a deluxe rerelease; and it seems the already star-studded collection will be made even more so.

Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going: The Complete Edition features collaborations with the likes of country sensation Jelly Roll and folk-pop singer-songwriter Myles Smith. It's the joining of forces with Sierra Ferrell, however, that really gets us fired up for these additional tracks.

'Hail Mary' sees the two stars team up for a dazzling call-and-response tune, a song that that finds them seeking forgiveness and righting certain wrongs in a last ditch effort to save a relationship.

'Hail Mary' is a stark country folk offering, born from the gentle strumming of a lonesome guitar and the silvery whistle of faraway steel. Much of the song goes on just like that, led by the subtle pull of a single guitar. While the chorus comes fitted with ambient keys and the atmospheric thrum of bass, the tune has a simple arrangement overall. It's a perfect one, though, for the earnest conversation within the song to unfold.

"Yeah, I've been in a bad condition
Haven't felt myself in a long hot minute
No, no
I said I would treat you different
Instead of singing song 'bout the hurt I'm giving to ya"

'Hail Mary' finds Shaboozey grappling with himself. He seems to be stuck in a holding pattern, unable to break away from the bleak feelings plaguing him and, in turn, consistently hurting the person he cares so deeply for.

He knows he's in the wrong for it, but still, he bleeds his partner dry of all their second chances. In the song, he sings "You've been giving miles and miles of grace / The more that you give, the more that I take."

No matter how hard he tries to change, he likens each attempt to teaching an old dog new tricks.

Now, Shaboozey and his lover are at an impasse and an ultimatum is thrown down: "Now, we could fight about this all night / Or I could just give in and say you're right."

"I was wrong, yeah, I admit it
That still ain't no one's business
Made you think that love was 2 a.m.
With teardrops in your drinks
Tried to win back your forgiveness
And it sure ain't fourth and inches
There's a couple ways that this could go
So baby, whatcha think?
You could cut me off or maybe you could spare me
And we could just go out and throw a last Hail Mary"

Their relationship is at stake and Shaboozey is asking for a "Hail Mary." In American football, such a term refers to a potential game-securing pass and a last ditch effort to score. Here, a "Hail Mary" is essentially just one more last chance.

Despite all the wrong he's done and all the hurt he's caused – in his words, he "made you think that love was 2 a.m. / With teardrops in your drinks" – he is asking for forgiveness in this final hour.

His duet partner, however, has a few words of her own:

"I wish that I could go my own way
But I'm at your door no matter what road I take
I been holding onto to hope
And praying that you might change
But a foolish heart will always break"

Despite the heartache, Sierra Ferrell is having her own time attempting to let go. She's been holding onto hope, knowing full well that her trusting heart is bound to break. That is unless they reach some kind of decision.

She poses the same demand, singing, "And we could fight about this all night / Or you could just give in and say I'm right."

What will it be? Will they cut ties or try for one last relationship-saving pass?

"I was wrong, yeah, I admit it
That still ain't no one's business
Made you think that love was 2 a.m.
With teardrops in your drinks
Tried to win back your forgiveness
And it sure ain't fourth and inches
There's a couple ways that this could go
So baby, whatcha think?
You could cut me off or maybe you could spare me
And we could just go out and throw a last Hail Mary"

Yeah, I've been in a bad condition
Haven't felt myself in a long hot minute
No, no
I said I would treat you different
Instead of singing song 'bout the hurt I'm giving to ya

You've been giving miles and miles of grace
The more that you give, the more that I take
How to break an old dog of his old ways
I've tried, can't change.

Now, we could fight about this all night
Or I could just give in and say you're right

I was wrong, yeah, I admit it
That still ain't no one's business
Made you think that love was 2 a.m.
With teardrops in your drinks
Tried to win back your forgiveness
And it sure ain't fourth and inches
There's a couple ways that this could go
So baby, whatcha think?
You could cut me off or maybe you could spare me
And we could just go out and throw a last Hail Mary

I wish that I could go my own way
But I'm at your door no matter what road I take
I been holding onto to hope
And praying that you might change
But a foolish heart will always break

And we could fight about this all night
Or you could just give in and say I'm right

I was wrong, yeah, I admit it
That still ain't no one's business
Made you think that love was 2 a.m.
With teardrops in your drinks
Tried to win back your forgiveness
And it sure ain't fourth and inches
There's a couple ways that this could go
So baby, whatcha think?
You could cut me off or maybe you could spare me
And we could just go out and throw a last Hail Mary

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For more on Shaboozey, see below: