'Too Good to Be True' by Kacey Musgraves - Lyrics & Meaning

It seems Kacey Musgraves is in her healing era.

The artist is currently venturing down a “deeper well,” tapping into the source, taking it all in and leaving behind everything and everyone that no longer serves her.

This new age has manifested itself in her upcoming sixth studio album Deeper Well, which drops on March 15.

Already, fans have gotten a taste of the forthcoming release, the album’s lead single and title track a brilliant first look at the introspective and meditative material to come.

Now, the album’s latest single, ‘Too Good to Be True’, is here and ready to be ruminated over. It's a devouring listen, the lovesick serenade every bit of what Musgraves does best: vulnerability, empathy and honesty.

‘Too Good to Be True’ is an immersive acoustic number. The delicate plucking paired with Musgraves’ casual croon is, all at once, sweeping and consuming.

The song echoes a certain time and place, the gentle folk stylings reminiscent of Greenwich Village, wrought-iron flanked stoops, afternoon light playing through tree-lined streets, beatniks in fitted turtlenecks.

The dreamy arrangement is bewitching, striking in its simplicity and lovable in its relatability.

So far, both of the Deeper Well singles have been a sonic departure from the artist’s cinematic 2021 release star-crossed, with ‘Too Good to Be True’ perhaps laying out the clearest direction for the coming album.

Made some breakfast, made some love
This is what dreams are made of

The track opens on a loved-up scene, the lyrics unfurling images of messy sheets and toothpaste kisses.

In the following lines, a cloudy Monday morning appears, a year of breakfasts and love-making having gone by: “A tidal wave without a warning,” she sings.

Please don't make me regret
Openin' up that part of myself
That I've been scared to give again
Be good to me and I'll be good to you
But please don't be too good to be true

The heart of the song is in its pleading chorus. Those beautiful, head-spinning, emotionally exposing moments of being in love are snapped back to reality, back to the possibility of being heartbroken.

Listeners are treated to a personal moment, a glimpse at the artist’s past and her pain. That fear to open up again could come from her 2020 divorce from fellow singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly.

In my mind, we're in New York
You had never been before
But, baby, now it's our town
I'll admit that I'm in deep
That I don't know how еlse to be
And I don't wanna slow down

Musgraves takes us on a stroll down memory lane, through crowded city streets with her love in hand. She sings of moving fast, but not wanting to slow down.

While the inspiration behind the song is not yet known, these lines could allude to her whirlwind romance with writer-poet Cole Schafer, which came to an end in late 2023 after two years together.

Made some breakfast, made some love

The song comes to an end with the same scene of mussed up sheets, breakfast and bed head.

This simple moment feels sacred, if only it were untouchable. “If this is what dreams are made of,” the artist begs in closing, “Please don't wake me.”

The artist has faithfully teased her impending release, and the arrival of ‘Too Good to Be True’ was no different.

With hints being dropped and lyrics being shared over the prior few days, the song came as no surprise on Feb. 29.

The inspiration behind the emotionally walloping tune, however, is unknown, with Musgraves pondering vaguely in a social media post: “Was it too good to be true or not true at all?”

“Made some breakfast, made some love
This is what dreams are made of
On a cloudy Monday morning
Summer's gone and you're still here
For both of us, it's been a year
A tidal wave without a warning

Please don't make me regret
Openin' up that part of myself
That I've been scared to give again
Be good to me and I'll be good to you
But please don't be too good to be true

In my mind, we're in New York
You had never been before
But, baby, now it's our town
I'll admit that I'm in deep
That I don't know how еlse to be
And I don't wanna slow down

Pleasе don't make me regret
Openin' up that part of myself
That I've been scared to give again
Be good to me and I'll be good to you
But please don't be too good to be true

Oh, mm
Ooh, mm

Made some breakfast, made some love
If this is what dreams are made of
Please don't wake me”

––

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