Miranda Lambert, ‘Little Red Wagon’ – ToC Critic’s Pick [Listen]

Miranda Lambert’s third single from ‘Platinum’ is an unlikely favorite from her live show. The uptempo, sassy ‘Little Red Wagon’ is brimming with confidence or "backyard swagger," even if most won’t be able to articulate what the wagon is a metaphor for.

Don’t get lost in the lyrics -- just appreciate Lambert’s attitude as she kicks this short-distance admirer to the gutter: “And you're just trying to slow this rolling stone / But I'm on to you baby / So guess what,” she says to close the second verse.

“You can't ride in my little red wagon / The front seat's broken and the axle's draggin' / You can't step to this backyard swagger / You know it ain't my fault when I'm walkin' jaws droppin' like ooh, ah.”

The final verse / bridge is the best. While Lambert didn’t write this track, the lyrics seem tailored for her no-bull patter. “And I've got long, blonde hair / And I play guitar, and I go on the road / And I do all the s--t you wanna do / And my dog does tricks / And I ain't about drama, y'all / And I love my apron / But I ain't your mama.”

If Taylor Swift cut ‘Little Red Wagon,' we’d spend hours or days trying to decipher who she was talking about. For Lambert, it's just a feisty punk song set to a country beat. Once again she stands out from the crowd. In taking chances like this she further endears herself to a fanbase hungry for risk-takers.

Why Fans Will Love It: Lambert brings back sassy without threatening to kill anyone. The song's punk-rock edge is also new to country music.

Key Lyrics: "You can't ride in my little red wagon / The front seat's broken and the axle's draggin' / You can't step to this backyard swagger / You know it ain't my fault when I'm walkin' jaws droppin' like ooh, ah”

Did You Know?: Rocker Audra Mae cut this song originally, and Lambert’s version stays true to her original, heard here.

Listen to Miranda Lambert, ‘Little Red Wagon’

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