Miranda Lambert teams with Maren Morris for a murderous revenge fantasy against a cheating partner in the new song Way Too Pretty for Prison, released on Monday. Its the fourth track Lambert has offered from her upcoming album Wildcard.
Opening with an atonal squall and Lamberts laughter, Way Too Pretty for Prison settles into a loping rhythm augmented by jagged shards of detuned electric guitar. Lambert plays the role of consoler, talking through a few scenarios with an aggrieved girlfriend who wants to go all Goodbye Earl on the guy. He cheated, hes a villain, and you know Id help you kill him, she sings, before laying out the litany of obvious consequences. Morris even proposes a couple of ways to dispatch the guy without getting too messy: Antifreeze in Gatorade, arsenic in his lemonade, she sings, relishing her part in the way Lambert had originally envisioned.
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I wrote it with the Love Junkies [Liz Rose, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey], so its four girls in a room drinking wine, writing a song called Way Too Pretty for Prison, Lambert tells Rolling Stone. It kind of called for a duet. I remember saying when we were writing it, Maren would be awesome on this. I sent it to her and she was in. Its just one of those girl anthems.
Lambert has long been a fan of her fellow Texas native, expressing admiration for Morris outspoken nature and clear sense of self.
I remember listening to her EP before it came out. She sent it to me and I remember just texting her and going, Youre the next one. This is great, and youre great,' says Lambert. She just is who she is, she doesnt apologize for it, and shes an amazing singer.
Way Too Pretty for Prison follows the albums lead single It All Comes Out in the Wash, Mess With My Head and Bluebird as early releases from Wildcard. The album, Lamberts first to be produced by Jay Joyce, will be released November 1st. In September, Lambert will launch her headlining Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour, with openers including Morris and Pistol Annies.