In a powerful move, Texas-born singer Maren Morris has released a new EP titled "The Bridge," accompanied by two striking songs and music videos, "The Tree" and "Get The Hell Out Of Here."
The lyrics of "The Tree" reflect Morris's candid perspective on the current state of country music. She sings, "taking an axe to the tree, The rot at the roots is the root of the problem, But you wanna blame it on me, I hung around longer than anyone should."
Both music videos share a narrative thread set in a fabricated town of diminutive homes and businesses, portraying the community undergoing stages of deterioration. A sign in the video designates the locale as a "perfect small town from sunrise to sundown," possibly alluding to Jason Aldean's divisive song, "Try That in a Small Town," and Morris's previous public disagreement with him. Other signs include one that reads, "Go Woke Go Broke."
In "Get The Hell Out Of Here," Morris voices, "I do the best I can, But the more I hang around here, The less I give a damn," hinting at a potential departure from the country genre as a whole.
Further revealing lyrics in "The Tree" express Morris's frustration, stating she's done "screaming the truth to a liar, Spent ten thousand hours trying to fight it with Flowers, When the tree was already on fire."
Discussing country music in an interview with the LA Times, Morris remarked, "I thought I’d like to burn it to the ground and start over. But it’s burning itself down without my help."
Looking ahead, it appears Morris might be venturing into a more pop-influenced sound, especially considering her collaboration with producer Jack Antonoff on "Get The Hell Out Of Here." Antonoff, renowned for his work with Taylor Swift, hints at a potential shift in musical direction. Morris and Antonoff are currently in the process of creating a new LP, as reported by the publication.