Follow Your Arrow
"Follow Your Arrow" is a country song co-written by Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, and Shane McAnally, and recorded by Musgraves as the third single from her debut major-label album Same Trailer Different Park, released on October 31, 2013.[1] The track's lyrics advocate for individual autonomy and decry selective moral outrage, advising listeners to ignore critics and pursue personal inclinations—whether abstaining from alcohol, smoking marijuana, or exploring same-sex relationships—with the refrain "just follow your arrow wherever it points."[1] Inspired by a poem Musgraves wrote for a friend relocating abroad, the song highlights perceived hypocrisies in social judgments, such as branding teetotalers as dull while condemning drinkers as alcoholics.[1] Commercially, it reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 60 on the Hot 100, though it stalled at number 43 on Country Airplay amid resistance from some stations wary of its content; it has since been certified platinum by the RIAA for over one million units sold or streamed.[2][3][4] Critically lauded for challenging country music's conventions on conformity and vice, "Follow Your Arrow" won Song of the Year at the 2014 Country Music Association Awards, underscoring industry peers' endorsement despite radio's hesitance and debates over its nods to homosexuality and cannabis in a traditionally conservative genre.[2][1]Background and Production
Songwriting and Inspiration
"Follow Your Arrow" was co-written by Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, and Shane McAnally during sessions for Musgraves' debut major-label album, Same Trailer Different Park, released on March 19, 2013.[1][5] The track was recorded as a last-minute addition to the album.[1] The song's lyrics originated from a poem Musgraves penned as a parting gift for a close friend relocating to Paris for four months of study abroad, encouraging the individual to embrace new experiences amid leaving familiar surroundings.[6][5] Key phrases such as "follow your arrow" and "kiss lots of boys" were drawn directly from this personal note, which Musgraves accompanied with an arrow-shaped necklace symbolizing direction and resolve.[6] During the collaborative writing session, the poem evolved into a broader anthem addressing societal hypocrisies and personal authenticity, with lines highlighting judgments on choices like premarital sex, sexual orientation, wealth, or marijuana use.[1][5] McAnally later explained that the reference to rolling a "joint" emerged organically from rhyming with "point," rather than as a premeditated statement on drug policy.[5] This process reflected the writers' intent to champion self-determination over external criticism, drawing from observations of marginalized experiences in country music culture.[1]Recording and Musical Production
"Follow Your Arrow" was co-produced by Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird, and Shane McAnally, who also co-wrote the track.[7][8] The production aligned with the overall sessions for Musgraves' debut album Same Trailer Different Park, emphasizing a clean, unadorned country sound that prioritized lyrical clarity over dense instrumentation.[9] Recording took place primarily at Ben's Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, with supplemental sessions at The Racket, Sound Emporium, and Maverick Recording, all located in Nashville.[9] Key contributions included electric guitar by Dave Levita and piano by Matt Stanfield, supporting Musgraves' lead vocals and a rhythm section typical of mid-tempo country tracks from the era.[10] Mixing duties were performed by Ryan Gore, while Andrew Mendelson handled mastering at Georgetown Masters in Nashville.[10][11] This process resulted in a polished yet organic audio profile, released under Mercury Nashville on March 19, 2013, as part of the album's standard track listing.[12]Release and Promotion
Single Release
"Follow Your Arrow" was issued as the third single from Kacey Musgraves' major-label debut album Same Trailer Different Park. Mercury Nashville, a division of Universal Music Group, sent the track to country radio stations on October 21, 2013.[13][14] The single followed "Merry Go 'Round" and "Blowin' Smoke" from the March 2013 album release, with Musgraves advocating for its promotion despite label suggestions to reserve it for a subsequent project due to its potentially divisive content.[2] Available primarily through radio airplay and digital platforms tied to the album, the release emphasized Musgraves' songwriting voice, co-authored with Shane McAnally and Kelli Leigh Warren.[13]Marketing and Radio Play Challenges
The release of "Follow Your Arrow" as the third single from Kacey Musgraves' debut album Same Trailer Different Park on February 25, 2013, encountered substantial resistance from country radio programmers, primarily due to the song's explicit advocacy for same-sex relationships and recreational marijuana use.[15] Despite initial buzz from Musgraves' prior singles, stations hesitated to add the track to playlists, citing concerns over its lyrical content clashing with the genre's traditional audience values.[16] This reluctance manifested in limited airplay, with the song peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 26 on the Hot Country Songs chart, far below expectations for a major-label single.[17] Country radio's conservative programming ecosystem, dominated by stations wary of alienating core listeners in rural and Southern markets, amplified these challenges, leading to what Musgraves later described as a de facto blacklist in 2025 reflections.[18] She noted that while she anticipated pushback, she refused to alter lyrics for broader appeal, stating she was not "setting out to be some martyr" but prioritized artistic integrity over radio conformity.[19] Industry observers attributed the resistance to broader tensions within Nashville, where programmers favored formulaic, apolitical hits amid fears of advertiser backlash or listener boycotts from socially conservative demographics.[20] Marketing efforts, handled by Mercury Nashville, faced compounded difficulties as diminished radio exposure curtailed promotional synergies like station tours and contests, which typically drive single momentum in country music.[16] The label shifted focus to digital platforms and live performances, including a censored CMA Awards appearance on November 6, 2013, where lyrics referencing marijuana were muted, further highlighting institutional discomfort.[21] Despite these hurdles, alternative promotion via music videos and streaming helped sustain fan interest, though radio's gatekeeping role underscored structural barriers for non-conformist artists in the format.[22]Composition
Musical Structure and Style
"Follow Your Arrow" is written in the key of F major, with Musgraves' vocal range spanning from F3 to C5.[23] The song employs a conventional verse–pre-chorus–chorus structure typical of mainstream country singles, featuring two verses, pre-choruses building tension, repeating choruses emphasizing the hook "follow your arrow," a bridge for variation, and an outro repeating the chorus fade.[24] Instrumentation centers on acoustic guitar for rhythm, banjo and pedal steel guitar for twangy country texture, bass guitar for low-end support, drums for a steady mid-tempo drive, and tambourine accents enhancing the upbeat feel.[25] Stylistically, the track adheres to contemporary country conventions through its blend of traditional elements like steel guitar slides and banjo picking with a polished production that avoids heavy electronic effects, prioritizing organic stringed instruments over synthesized sounds.[26] Musgraves delivers the melody in a conversational, matter-of-fact tone that contrasts with more emotive country vocal styles, underscoring the song's theme of non-conformity without veering into pop crossover excess.[5] This approach maintains genre fidelity while incorporating subtle progressive touches, such as layered backing vocals in the chorus for harmonic depth.[24]Lyrics and Themes
"Follow Your Arrow" features lyrics co-written by Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, and Brandy Clark, presenting a series of dichotomies highlighting societal judgments on personal behaviors. The opening verse critiques expectations around premarital sex: "If you save yourself for marriage, you're a bore / If you don't save yourself for marriage, you're a horrible person," followed by similar contrasts on alcohol consumption and marijuana use, such as "If you won't have a drink, just be polite and have a drink / But don't let somebody shamin' you" and "They'll judge you and leave you and take your money."[10] [27] The chorus advocates personal autonomy with the refrain "Follow your arrow, wherever it points," emphasizing resilience against criticism: "You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't / So you might as well just do whatever you want."[10] Subsequent verses extend this to religious observance and sexual orientation, noting "If you don't go to church, you'll go to hell / If you're the first one in the pew, you're a hypocrite," and directly addressing same-sex relationships: "Say what you feel, love who you love / 'Cause you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself."[10] Musgraves has described the song's origin as a poem for a friend departing for Paris, intended to encourage disregard for others' opinions amid life's judgments.[28] The structure builds from specific hypocrisies to a broader call for self-determination, culminating in a bridge that reinforces non-conformity: "Make your own rules, follow your heart."[10] Thematically, the song promotes individualism and tolerance for divergent lifestyles, rejecting imposed moral binaries in favor of personal choice. Musgraves characterized it as reflective of her worldview on human relations, advocating a "live and let live" philosophy that prioritizes authenticity over external validation.[29] It underscores civil-libertarian principles, as evidenced in the writing process where collaborators riffed on phrases like "mind your own biscuits" to capture anti-interference sentiments.[30] While framed as inclusive self-acceptance, the lyrics equate judgments across behaviors—ranging from substance use to romantic preferences—without endorsing any particular path, instead critiquing the futility of universal approval.[5] This approach highlights causal realism in social dynamics: attempts to conform to conflicting standards lead to inevitable conflict, rendering self-directed action the rational response.[28]Reception and Commercial Performance
Critical Reception
"Follow Your Arrow" received widespread acclaim from music critics for its sharp lyricism and bold nonconformity within the country genre. Rolling Stone described the track as loping and advocating for personal freedom, including casual endorsements of marijuana use and same-sex relationships, positioning it as a key example of Musgraves' irreverent style on her debut album.[31] NPR lauded it as a timely anthem of self-determination that incisively critiques small-town conformity, aligning with Musgraves' broader reframing of country themes.[32] Billboard critics ranked the song No. 2 among the best tracks of 2013, crediting Musgraves with transforming potentially bumper-sticker platitudes into engaging, persuasive music through her delivery.[2] The Guardian noted its jaunty endorsement of diverse lifestyles, including gay relationships, as a standout element in the album's reception.[33] Aggregated reviews for Same Trailer Different Park, where the song served as a single, averaged 84 out of 100 from critics, frequently highlighting "Follow Your Arrow" as a highlight for its wit and thematic risk-taking.[34] Some reviewers offered qualified praise, critiquing the song's overt moral relativism or perceived cheesiness in execution, though such views were minority positions amid the prevailing enthusiasm for its disruption of genre norms.[35][36] Saving Country Music called it potentially revolutionary, surpassing even Musgraves' earlier hit "Merry Go 'Round" in songwriting polish and sonic appeal.[37]Chart Performance
"Follow Your Arrow" achieved moderate success on Billboard charts, with performance varying significantly between airplay-focused and sales-inclusive metrics. On the Country Airplay chart, which relies primarily on radio spins, the song peaked at number 43 in 2014.[38] In contrast, on the Hot Country Songs chart, incorporating digital sales and streaming alongside airplay, it reached a higher peak of number 10 during the same period.[38] The track also entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 60 on the chart dated February 15, 2014.[39]| Chart (2013–2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country (Billboard) | 42 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 60 |
| US Country Airplay (Billboard) | 43 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) | 10 |