Kelsea Ballerini’s “Baggage” plays on both her jet-setting life style and her past romantic entanglements. We all carry around something in our lives, and it can effect how we proceed into new relationships. Nevertheless, Ballerini isn’t letting her baggage get her down in this song. Unpack the meaning behind this track, below.
Videos by American Songwriter
Unpacking the Meaning Behind “Baggage” by Kelsea Ballerini
I don’t pack light, I travel for a livin’, mm
And I don’t abide by that 50-pound limit
On that Delta flight out west
I’m there every other Wednesday
But my heart ain’t up in the air
So if you want me
Clear out a drawer, clear out a shelf
I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else
Everything that’s heavy, I check it at the door
Kind of feel like I don’t need it anymore
I got some bones of old skeletons
From the old house at the dead end
I got baggage, but I’m movin’ in
Ballerini seems to be speaking to a new love interest in this song. She acknowledges her first marriage–which publicly went south–and cedes that her new beau will have to get onboard with that baggage if he wants to be with her.
This chorus is one of the most infectious in Ballerini’s catalog. Though it’s highly metaphorical, her plea to her new romantic interest rings true. She wants to leave her past behind her and make space for her future–all she needs is a little help making room. I got baggage, but I’m movin’ in, she sings.
When you live your life in the public eye, fans immediately take to analyzing every song you write. Though any Ballerini listener will immediately be able to tell you who this song is about, we’re enticed by the universality of this message.
We all want someone to accept us as we are–baggage and all. This song takes a firm stance in that department. Clear out a drawer, clear out a shelf / I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else, she sings. Revisit this track, below.
[RELATED: Carly Pearce Toasts “Sister” Kelsea Ballerini’s Success in Sweet Social Media Post]
We both slept on a mattress with “I love you” people, mm
And, shit, I even took it all the way to the steeple
So, boy, I know the weight and gravity
Of keychains with same keys
But if you want that welcome mat
Then roll it out with me, and
Clear out a drawer, clear out a shelf
I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else
Everything that’s heavy, I check it at the door
Kind of feel like I don’t need it anymore
I got some bones of old skeletons
From the old house at the dead end
I got baggage, but I’m movin’ in
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for KB)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.