‘Southbound’ by Maddox Batson - Lyrics & Meaning

First teased in early October, Maddox Batson thankfully didn't keep us waiting too long before we could hear the full version of his new single, ‘Southbound’. Batson dropped the track on October 18th, alongside an official music video bringing the story to life.

The heartbroken offering finds the 14-year-old prodigy looking back on a past romance, and wondering whether he already knew deep down that it was destined to end, before they made the decision to break up. Maddox Batson playfully uses the metaphor of him driving away from his ex ‘Southbound’ as a metaphor for how things were ‘heading South’, due to the relationship being on a downhill slope.

Maddox Batson's distinctive vocals float across an easygoing, undulating instrumental that captures the feel of driving along a highway. It mirrors the tone of the track, with ‘Southbound’ exploring a darker, more brooding ambience compared to the rose-tinted, free-spirited euphoria of Batson's previous release, ‘X's’.

The introduction features what sounds like a scratching vinyl record player, before Maddox Batson's vocals filter through the haze, accentuating the nostalgic feel of the song.

“Girl we’re headed southbound

Kickin’ up leavin’ what was us in a dust cloud

Knew it all along and maybe it was wrong cause I knew it was time

So I threw it out the window one sixty five

Headed southbound”

Throughout the track, Maddox Batson employs the idea of heading ‘Southbound’ to convey his sense that the relationship was on a declining trajectory. By using this imagery, he conveys how he sensed things were wrong before they officially broke up.

“You never think about the end when it’s just getting started

How we go from hot into cold into heartless

Yeah our spark never made it to a flame

Ain’t that a shame

I know I know it is what it is

I don’t wanna leave it like this

Nothin’ nothin’ is ever gon change

If we keep goin’ this way”

The narrator explains how, when you're in the throes of romance at the start of a relationship, it's easy to overlook the red flags and assume you'll be together forever. With the benefit of hindsight, though, he realises their passion was never built to last, utilising the powerful image of a spark not being powerful enough light the flame.

“We’re headed southbound

Lookin’ like our love’s gettin’ gone on its way out

Maybe I was dumb and

Maybe I was numb cause I knew it was comin’

Yeah but you had me runnin’

Girl we’re headed southbound

Kickin’ up leavin’ what was us in a dust cloud

Knew it all along and maybe it was wrong cause I knew it was time

So I threw it out the window one sixty five

Headed southbound”

Although penned looking back at a past relationship, the narrative of ‘Southbound’ takes place as the couple are only just beginning to see the end of their journey. The protagonist admits he could tell something wasn't right, but self-deprecatingly describes himself as being either too ‘dumb’ or ‘numb’ to act on it sooner.

“I could lie like sayin’ goodbye ain’t the hardest

And every word is cuttin’ me like it’s the sharpest

Gotta get this off my chest

I only wish you the best”

Even though it seems the narrator has come to the conclusion that it's the right time for the relationship to end, he confesses that it's still going to be painful bidding farewell. He ends on a positive note, wishing his ex happiness as they go their separate ways.

In the caption to his teaser video, Maddox Batson explained how ‘Southbound was inspired by real-life events, “Before I started pursuing a career in music, I had a girlfriend. My life started getting so busy that I left school, and we decided it was best for us to end things. Even though we went our separate ways, I still have a lot of love for her and wish her the best. This is a song I wrote about it - Southbound”.

“Girl we’re headed southbound

Kickin’ up leavin’ what was us in a dust cloud

Knew it all along and maybe it was wrong cause I knew it was time

So I threw it out the window one sixty five

Headed southbound

-

You never think about the end when it’s just getting started

How we go from hot into cold into heartless

Yeah our spark never made it to a flame

Ain’t that a shame

I know I know it is what it is

I don’t wanna leave it like this

Nothin’ nothin’ is ever gon change

If we keep goin’ this way

-

We’re headed southbound

Lookin’ like our love’s gettin’ gone on its way out

Maybe I was dumb and

Maybe I was numb cause I knew it was comin’

Yeah but you had me runnin’

Girl we’re headed southbound

Kickin’ up leavin’ what was us in a dust cloud

Knew it all along and maybe it was wrong cause I knew it was time

So I threw it out the window one sixty five

Headed southbound

-

I could lie like sayin’ goodbye ain’t the hardest

And every word is cuttin’ me like it’s the sharpest

Gotta get this off my chest

I only wish you the best

-

We’re headed southbound

Lookin’ like our love’s getting gone on its way out

Maybe I was dumb and

Maybe I was numb cause I knew it was comin’

Yeah but you had me runnin’

Girl we’re headed southbound

Kickin’ up leavin’ what was us in a dust cloud

Knew it all along and maybe it was wrong cause I knew it was time

So I threw it out the window one sixty five

Headed southbound

-

We’re headed southbound

Lookin’ like our love’s getting gone on its way out

Maybe I was dumb and

Maybe I was numb cause I knew it was comin’

Yeah but you had me runnin’

Girl we’re headed southbound

Kickin’ up leavin’ what was us in a dust cloud

Knew it all along and maybe it was wrong cause I knew it was time

So I threw it out the window one sixty five

Headed southbound”

For more on Maddox Batson, see below: