'Snakeskin' by Tanner Adell - Lyrics & Meaning

After Tanner Adell wiped her instagram on Sunday 4 May with a lone snake emoji, the 'Whiskey Blues' singer began teasing an as yet untitled song with cryptic captions like "hard to break a heart when ur from a broken home" and "im a cowgirl I’ll do my own saving," which turned out to be the lyrics to the song 'Snakeskin.'

"My life in 8 bars. V2 Snakeskin," Tanner Adell wrote in a teaser post for her new single. "The realest verse I've ever written."

With lyrics from that second verse like, "Mama gave me up / Leavings all I’ve ever known / Hard to break a heart when you're from a broken home" and "This shot right here’s the only thing that I’m chasing / I’m a cowgirl imma do my own saving," 'Snakeskin' told the story of Tanner Adell troubled childhood and her desire for independence.

"i have abandonment issues," the singer posted in another teaser for the track on 15 May, almost a month before the song was release on 13 June.

The track is released following previous singles 'Going Blonde' and 'Silverado,' which fans are hoping will be included on a highly anticipated as yet unannounced full-length follow up to Buckle Bunny (Deluxe) from 2023.

The reflective mid-paced country pop ballad features a banjo and a rhythmically struck acoustic guitar with gentle twinkling keys over the top. It's less R&B leaning than some of Tanner Adell's previously releases and showcases her angelic but distinctively countrified twang.

I see you over there

Think you’re smooth sinking doubles

You don’t know it yet but you’re gettin into trouble

Shootin them looks all over my way and

Think you’re running game but I’m the one playin

Tanner sees a guy in a bar drinking double measure spirits and looking over at her suggestively. She thinks that although he isn't aware of it yet, he is going to find himself in a difficult situation if he continues to look at her in that way.

In a romantic context, "running game" is slang that refers to a person who uses calculated, manipulative tactics to charm or impress others, often with the goal of achieving a specific outcome like a date or sexual encounter. It implies that the person is not being genuine or authentic and is rather employing a "game" to achieve their romantic goals

Tanner suggests that although the man at the bar thinks he is the one playing a "game," it is in fact her who is manipulating the dynamics. The phrase "a player" in a romantic context usually refers to someone who is involved in multiple romantic relationships simultaneously without a strong commitment to any of them. They are seen as playing the dating game for pleasure and may not be looking for a serious, long-term relationship.

Who you think put the leave in Levi’s

Tanner uses a play on words with the famous jeans brand Levi's to indicate that she is the person who often ends a relationship and is unable to commit.

Boy you’re just a choice

I got three guys

For Tanner, it is her that has the upper hand and more power in this situation. The man in the bar is someone she can decide whether she gets involved with or not. She tells him that she has three other potential suitors who she could just as easily become involved with.

Lovin me is a slippery slope

Tanner suggests that becoming involved in a romantic relationship with her is a course of action likely to lead to something bad. A slippery slope argument suggests that a seemingly minor action will inevitably lead to a series of negative consequences, culminating in a drastic and undesirable outcome.

I’ll Burn you up like Hickory smoke

"Hickory smoked" usually refers to the process of cooking food - especially meats like pork, ribs, and bacon - over a fire using hickory wood, which imbues the food with a distinctive smoky, strong and sweet flavour. Tanner uses this metaphor to imply that getting involved with her romantically will be something that, although sweet and powerful, would ultimately consume the other person involved.

Think you’re slicker than the snakeskins on my feet

But you never been wrapped around nothing like me

Nothing like me

Nothing like me

Tanner tells the man at the bar that although he is under the impression that he is smooth and persuasive - much like the cowboy boots made of snakeskin that she is wearing - he has not experienced someone as sexually intoxicating as her before.

The idiom "wrapped around your finger" means to have complete control over someone and be able to easily persuade them to do what you want. This line suggests that Tanner has such a strong influence over people, especially men, that they are easily manipulated or coerced into doing things for her.

Mama gave me up

leavings all I’ve ever known

Hard to break a heart when you're from a broken home

In the second verse that Tanner described as "the realest verse I've ever written," the singer retells a story about her own childhood and younger years. She explains how her mother giving her up for adoption has affected her own difficulty to commit to romantic relationships as she has gotten older.

This shot right here’s the only thing that I’m chasing

I’m a cowgirl imma do my own saving

Instead of pursuing the man in the bar romantically, Tanner says the only thing she is "chasing" is the drink she is drinking. "Chasing a drink" means quickly consuming another drink after the first, often a lighter or milder drink like a chaser. This practice is commonly used to soften the taste of the stronger drink or to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly.

The phrase "I’m a cowgirl imma do my own saving" means that Tanner does not need to prescribe to traditional heteronormative gender roles. In traditional fairy tales women are often portrayed as passive damsels in distress whose sole purpose is to be rescued by male protagonists.

Characters like Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty are depicted as submissive and virtuous, waiting for a prince to come to their rescue and provide them with a "happily ever after."

In Tanner Adell's narrative she rejects traditional gender roles because she is a "cowboy" and reaffirms the agency and autonomy of herself as a central female character.

Several fictional princess characters, especially in recent literature, exemplify the concept of saving themselves.

I’ll keep you up at night

Stay runnin through your mind

I’m a Kudzu vine on a hill

A Kudzu vine is a quick-growing East Asian climbing plant with reddish-purple flowers often associated with themes of perseverance and survival. The rapid-growth nature of the plant has earned it the nickname 'The Vine that Ate the South.' Tanner suggests that if someone starts liking her, soon they will fall deeper and deeper in love with her.

You can try to buy me things

You’ll be thinkin diamond rings

Get you feelin things

Tanner is implying that it won't be long before the man at the bar is buying her expensive gifts to try and win her affections.

“I wrote this song for people who have been broken so many times that they think they’re hard to love," Tanner Adell shared. "I want it to be a safe space where you can push back against that painful inner narrative. A place where even the most wounded hearts can still be held, healed and loved.”

I See you over there think you’re smooth sinking doubles

You don’t know it yet but you’re gettin into trouble

Shootin them looks all over my way and

Think you’re running game

but I’m the one playin

Who you think put the leave in Levi’s

Boy you’re just a choice

I got three guys

lovin me is a slippery slope

I’ll Burn you up like Hickory smoke

Think you’re slicker than the snakeskins on my feet

But you never been wrapped around nothing like me

Nothing like me

Nothing like me

Mama gave me up

leavings all I’ve ever known

Hard to break a heart when you're from a broken home

This shot right here’s the only thing that I’m chasing

I’m a cowgirl imma do my own Saving

lovin me is a slippery slope

I’ll Burn you up like Hickory smoke

Think you’re slicker than the snakeskins on my feet

But you never been wrapped around nothin like me

Nothing like me

Nothing like me

I’ll keep you up at night

Stay runnin through your mind

I’m a Kudzu vine on a hill

You can try to buy me things

You’ll be thinkin diamond rings

Get you feelin things

you thought you’d never feel

But lovin me is a slippery slope

I’ll Burn you up like Hickory smoke

Think you’re slicker than the snakeskins on my feet

But you never been wrapped around nothin’ like

lovin me is a slippery slope

I’ll Burn you up like Hickory smoke

Think you’re slicker than the snakeskins on my feet

But you never been wrapped around nothin’ like me

Nothing like me

Nothing like me

--

For more on Tanner Adell, see below: