Behind the Song: Guns and Glitter

By now if you are reading this you have probably either heard this song or after reading this will go look it up. Its my first "official" single and it appears to point to a very specific demographic if you just look at the surface. As a songwriter sometimes what is written is perfectly true, sometimes they are totally made up, sometimes they are a mix between the 2. Sometimes when you have multiple writers on one song it is coming from all over the place and very different perspectives.

So what I am about to do is break down this entire song -almost like an interpretation of where it actually came from. The funny thing is it is like the only song I have ever written that I could do this on so specifically. Hopefully this honesty won't ruin it for all of you chicks that are rocking out to it -because it is true you can kick butt and look good doing it and that is a fact so don't let anything take away from that!!

(Lyrics are in caps hope you can make sense of the explanations of each line!)

GUNS AND GLITTER

DON'T YOU DARE BELIEVE I'M WEAK MY NERVES ARE STEEL

Actually at the moment I was a mess. I had been a mess for a while and every song I had written was depressing! So I sat down and decided I needed to write a kick butt song, even if I didn't feel like it. Even if it was the total opposite of what I felt right that second.

GO AHEAD LOOK DOWN ON ME, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK

Actually I cared way too much what people thought and it had really started weighing heavy.

TIGHT BLUE JEANS ARE NO DOUBT HOT

MIX BUCKLES AND BOOTS AND A REALLY GOOD SHOT

Everyone has a combination of things that make them "them" its our makeup. That combination no matter what it is- is awesome and what we have to learn to embrace it. The cowgirl image of jeans, buckles, boots, and a gun was the image and combo that sounded so tough to me even if at the moment I was far from that.

GUNS AND GLITTER ARE MY FAVORITE THINGS

I had to ask myself...What is something I enjoy? What are things that I can do that make me feel better and smile? Guns. I love shooting guns. Something about the smell of gunpowder and blowing up targets and Coke cans is so much fun to me, even when nothing else is! Glitter. Cover anything in glitter. It makes me smile.

A GIRL WITH GRIT IS FIERCE BUT SWEET

I can be tough and nice all at the same time. I can be me and that's ok.

I HAVE A PISTOL IN MY PURSE

I really do and it makes me happy.

WAS HITTING BULLSEYE AS A LITTLE GIRL

MMMmmmm more like when I got older... but in the figurative sense it was more I have been tougher than this for a long time so this "mess" of a person I am right now isn't normal.

I CAN HOLD MY OWN WHEN YOU RUN YOUR MOUTH

BE ASSURED I WON'T BACK DOWN

For the most part I can handle myself when people are mean and rude or whatever so why am I backing down like a sissy right now?!

MY MAMA SAID STAND TALL LOOK NICE

DADDY TAUGHT ME HOW TO FIGHT

I was raised with a balance of total femininity and playing hard and tough.

PINK AND PRETTY I'LL PULL THAT TRIGGER

I can do this -I will get better

I WON'T GIVE UP MY GUNS AND GLITTER

I won't give up who I am. I gotta be ok with being me and don't give up on that.

LIFE CAN GET UGLY BUT SPARKLE DROWNS IT OUT

Life was pretty ugly, but there were a few little sparkles here and there

YOU THINK GIRLY CANT BE STRONG

BUT YOU'RE WRONG SO WRONG

To think just because I'm a mess right now that I won't ever get better is wrong so wrong

MY AIM IS BETTER THAN MOST BOYS

It really is! Not all boys and not all the time, but pretty darn good most of the time! (not skeet I'm terrible at that!)

I SHOOT WITH GRACE AND POISE

With shooting and with everything in life make it look on purpose - do it all with grace and poise

A PINK 45 SIG IN MY COACH

My gun is pink, its not a Sig but that fit better lyrically! It is in a Coach purse.

I CAN BLAST THAT TARGET DON'T YOU KNOW

Another I can do this moment

A LITTLE BIT GAUDY BUT PERFECTLY NICE

Yes, I love gaudy and excessive amounts of cheap jewelry and stuff- but just enough to look just right! In life a little bit gaudy, but nice is ok. We can be perfect in our imperfections.

A SOUTHERN BELLE DONE RIGHT

Yes. Be that.

So basically Guns and Glitter is not exactly about Guns and Glitter at all ... when I was writing it it was literally a pep talk to myself. So as per the directions of marketing webinars and education about connecting with fans etc there you have it - honesty and the behind the song story. That is Guns and Glitter and what it meant to me then....now it pretty much is just about shooting up targets and covering things in beautiful glitter....because things can get better ...don't give up who you are.