The Real Meaning Behind Kacey Musgraves' 'Justified'

Kacey Musgraves' "Justified" is more than just a country-pop number — it is a somber contemplation of the singer's personal life over the past few years. Coming off the heels of her divorce from Ruston Kelly, whom she married in 2017, Musgraves channels her years of hurt into her latest release, per NME. Outlined in airy synths, a contrastingly dynamic guitar arrangement (note the trebly acoustic strums on the left juxtaposed with the mid-heavy guitar line on the right), and inoffensive percussion, Musgraves puts the listener in the unique position of not groveling, but actually singing along with her as she airs out her post-divorce grievances.

In mid-2020, reps for both Musgraves and Kelly announced the two would be filing for divorce and that they "made this painful decision together," as reported by AP News. In the statement, they opine that "we were put into each other's lives for a divine reason and have both changed each other infinitely for the better" and that "the love we have for each other goes far beyond the relationship we've shared as husband and wife." The statement also noted that "it simply just didn't work," but that the two "hold no blame, anger, or contempt for each other." 

It's why lyrics like "We lost touch with each other" and "Moving backwards, hurt comes after / Healing doesn't happen in a straight line" deal a weighty blow to the listener, knowing that Musgraves' ruminations come from a place of sheer hurt and sorrow.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7XCpKCsr5mbwW%2BvzqZmbnBnboNze9OhnGaqlZa5brnEmqWippdir6a0yKebZqORmLK6ecyuqqCqkauytHnJrqqtoZaesqV7