Top Ten Songs of 2011 – #9
Miranda Lambert’s Four the Record is my favorite album of 2011, so it might seem weird that its only song on my top ten countdown is sitting at #9.
But I think the album’s overall strength and consistency keeps it from having the sort of standout track that places higher on a list like this. I could have easily chosen the compelling ‘Mama’s Broken Heart,’ the aching ‘Look at Miss Ohio,’ the old-school ‘Same Old You’ or any of a dozen other songs to represent this great record.
I’m going with ‘Baggage Clam’ because it was Four the Record‘s first single, the first taste of my most anticipated album of the year.
It’s also a fine example of the fun Lambert has with language, here playing up the baggage and airline metaphor to kick a two-timing lover the the curb.
Making sure that your bags arrive on time for the dog and pony show
A leather suitcase like a brick,
It kinda makes it hard to get a good grip
I drop your troubles off at the conveyor belt,
I’ll hand you a ticket to go get it yourself
At the baggage claim, you got a lot of luggage in your name
When you hit the ground, check the lost and found
Cause it ain’t my problem now
I can’t carry it on, I’ve got a lot of troubles on my own
It’s all over the yard, in the trunk of the car,
I’m packin’ it in, so come and get it.
If it ain’t obvious what has set me off today,
Behind every woman scorned is a man who made her that way
Go on and take your little business trip
With that sweet little habit that you can’t kick
You better call your momma when you get to town
Cause I ain’t gonna be hangin’ around
At the baggage claim, you got a lot of luggage in your name
When you hit the ground, check the lost and found
Because it ain’t my problem now
I can’t carry it on, I’ve got a lot of troubles of my own
It’s all over the yard, in the trunk of the car,
I’m packin’ it in, so come and get it
Come and pick it up, pick it up
Before I blow it up in flames
You better pick it up, pick it up
Baby, I’m leaving everything…
At the baggage claim, you got a lot of luggage in your name
And when you hit the ground, check the lost and found
Cause it ain’t my problem now
I can’t carry it on, I’ve got a lot of troubles of my own
It’s all over the yard, in the trunk of the car,
Well I’m packin’ it in, so come and get it
Meet Me In Montauk 
Well, this would have been a good song for metaphor week!
Good song. I like what you have featured from this album.
This Miranda Lambert has a way with figurative language. We’ve been enjoying the last album, and I particularly like “Gunpowder and Lead.” I’m ready to use it as an example of gender stereotypes in my class. Good stuff. I can understand why you like her albums so much, though I can see why it’s hard to single out one song as one of the best of the year. They tend not to be as impressive as individual songs as they are enjoyable as a collection – if that makes any sense.