'Wranglers' by Miranda Lambert – Lyrics & Meaning

The next era of Miranda Lambert's storied career kicked off with the smoldering 'Wranglers,' the lead single from her forthcoming record, Postcards From Texas, set to arrive on September 13.

Marking her first bit of new music since exiting her longtime label home, Sony Music Nashville, and the first release through Republic Records and the newly formed Big Loud Texas, the song made quite the splash upon its release in May. Less than six weeks after 'Wranglers' entered the musical arena, it had already notched the biggest-streaming debut of Lambert's 20+ year career.

In many ways harkening back to her humble country beginnings, the 2024 tune is reminiscent of her 2005 breakout hit, 'Kerosene,' as well as her first Top 10 at country radio, 'Gunpowder & Lead.'

Carrying on what's become her tradition of vengeful, payback-lined anthems, 'Wranglers' tells the story of a woman who gets her revenge by setting aflame everything from her previous relationship... literally.

As the most awarded artist in ACM history, Lambert knows a thing or two about what makes a hit, and as we mentioned, this song's content has become her specialty over the years.

Recorded at Arlyn Recording Studios in her home state of Texas, 'Wranglers' and the entirety of Postcards from Texas find Lambert behind the soundboard alongside her frequent collaborator and trusty producer, Jon Randall.

Together, the pair of seasoned tunesmiths paint a vivid portrait of the song's moving prose, penned by Audra Mae, Ryan Carpenter and Evan McKeever. Based on a real conversation had between Lambert and Mae about their personal experiences in toxic relationships, what results is a three-minute tale of the power and destruction of female rage.

With a foreboding drum roll, acoustic guitar and a sinister sounding whistle opening the track, Lambert's signature Texas twang cuts through almost defiantly as Mae adds some chilling background vocals throughout.

Fit with a strong and compelling chorus, 'Wranglers' showcases Lambert's tried and true combination of country sensibility and high-octane, rock-infused instrumentation, that features sizzling guitar licks and a goosebump-inducing howl at the song's close.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
When the knock down drag out's over
And Lord knows she took one too many
Well, her blue jean eyes are too tired to cry
And he won't know till she's gone already"

Starting off with quite the powerful opening line, Lambert warns that the darkness and dangers of hell can't hold a candle to that of a woman with a vendetta.

After the lover's quarrels are all over and she's properly boozed up, the woman in question has no more time to cry and instead starts planning her next move... and we have a feeling her ex won't escape unscathed.

"If he ever loved her, he never let it show
If she didn't need him, she'd a left him long ago
She set it all on fire, and if there's one thing that she learned
Wranglers takе forever to burn"

It's a cautionary tale, more than anything, that explains that the woman was left feeling unloved by her partner.

Assuming that their split wasn't quite an amicable one, she decides that she no longer needs him. In fact, while she's feeling so galvanized, she decided to set their entire past life on fire... literally. Yet, she quickly finds that his beloved Wrangler jeans aren't so quick to turn to ash.

So, I guess you learn something new every day!

"How long? How much can a broken hеart take?
Who could blame her when it all goes up in flames?
Not a one of us could of done better
Not with that wandering eye, wannabe Marlboro man
It came as no surprise when she finally took a stand"

Pondering why she stayed so long and how much her heart can really take of continuing to be broken and beaten by her no good ex boyfriend, the woman tries to make a case for her behavior. After everything he put her through, how could she be blamed for her little run-in with arson?

Trying to appeal to the listeners, Lambert explains that any woman would have done the same if they'd had to put up with that unfaithful, lying guy. So, really, the woman's behavior – though questionable, at the least – should come as no surprise.

"If he ever loved her, he never let it show
If she didn't need him, she'd a left him long ago
She set it all on fire, and if there's one thing that she learned
Wranglers take forever to burn"

As we mentioned, Lambert has created a reputation for her fire and brimstone anthems, all centered on female empowerment and the reckoning of no-good men.

Speaking of the song, the Grammy-winning entertainer shared: “’Wranglers’ is a classic tale of a woman taking her power back. I think we can all identify with the character in this song because we have all had a time in our life where we needed to find our strength and also get a little revenge on someone who did us wrong or hurt us.”

Shea added: “I am so proud to sing this song. It feels like it could have been on the same record as ‘Gunpowder & Lead’ in a lot of ways. 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' is a pretty powerful statement, and the way it’s written, you can tell we’re not kidding.”

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
When the knock down drag out's over
And Lord knows she took one too many
Well, her blue jean eyes are too tired to cry
And he won't know till she's gone already

If he ever loved her, he never let it show
If she didn't need him, she'd a left him long ago
She set it all on fire, and if there's one thing that she learned
Wranglers takе forever to burn

How long? How much can a broken hеart take?
Who could blame her when it all goes up in flames?
Not a one of us could of done better
Not with that wandering eye, wannabe Marlboro man
It came as no surprise when she finally took a stand

If he ever loved her, he never let it show
If she didn't need him, she'd a left him long ago
She set it all on fire, and if there's one thing that she learned
Wranglers take forever to burn

If he ever loved her, he never let it show
If she didn't need him, she'd a left him long ago
She set it all on fire, and if there's one thing that she learned
Wranglers take forever
Damn, they take forever to burn

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