Episode Fourteen Transcript - The Butterflies On The Concrete Podcast: What Got Me Through The Week?

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[Intro Music – “There is poetry all around me…”]

Hello and Welcome to this week’s episode of the Butterflies On The Concrete Podcast: What Got Me Through The Week? This week I’m gonna talk about Kelsea Ballerini’s new album, Subject to Change. But first, please listen to a brief disclaimer before we get started, and please note that all songwriting information and lyric information that’s mentioned in this episode was found on Genius.com.

This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for any professional medical, psychological, financial, legal, or other advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you feel you are in a life-threatening situation, please promptly contact the appropriate authorities, medical providers, or crisis intervention service providers in your local area for immediate assistance.  All rights are reserved and this podcast, in whole or in part, may not be distributed, reproduced, or otherwise used without the written permission of Hyssop & Ebony LLC.

Alright! Now let’s get started!

I’ll start off by saying that I don’t listen to country music often, and when I do, it’s either Taylor Swift or Mickey Guyton. However, there was a song that I really loved in the past, that falls outside of those two artists, and it’s called ‘Miss Me More,’ and it’s by Kelsea Ballerini. And so, when I was scrolling through iTunes to buy a different album, I noticed that Kelsea Ballerini had a new album out, entitled Subject to Change, and it caught my eye. What got me to actually listen to it though was the title song, because it intrigued me. What kind of song would have the title ‘Subject to Change’? After that, I did a deep dive and I listened to the album and I loved it. Her voice is beautiful and her songs are catchy and just good vibes. With the exception of maybe two songs, I’ve really been enjoying her new music and I’m slowly becoming a fan.

Today I’ll talk about three songs off her new album that I’m really enjoying, and we’ll start with that title song, ‘Subject To Change.’  It’s a song that feels like a celebration - and a normalization - of changing your mind.

The song was written by Kelsea Ballerini, Karen Fairchild and Alysa Vanderheym.

There are two parts of the song that I enjoy the most and that’s the second pre-chorus and the chorus, which are as follows, and I quote:

[2nd Pre-Chorus]

“Thank God, I don't know about tomorrow (Ah-ah, ah-ah, ah)

Thank God, I take it day by day (Ah-ah, ah-ah)

Oh, I don't think about the chapters

It's all about turning the page

[Chorus]

I’m subject to going from zero to feelin' obsessed

To happy and laughin', then being upset

But if one thing’s the samе

It's that I'm subject to change, yeah

I guеss, I haven't decided if I'm gonna stay brunette

A little unpredictable, I confess

That if one thing's the same

It's that I'm subject to change.”

The spirit of the song seems to be that it’s okay to change your mind as you go through life. And it’s super empowering to hear a song like this because at times, in the past, when I was younger, I felt like because I made a decision I had to stick with it, or I felt pressured by other people to stick with what I’d decided. Something as simple as convincing myself, or being convinced by someone else, to go to a weekly dance class when I was younger because I made a commitment to do so, when really my first instinct was to not go because I was tired and didn’t feel like it.  I had this feeling that I should adhere to other people’s expectations even if something about it didn’t feel right, because I didn’t yet know who I was as a person or didn’t feel like I could express myself fully. You know, that ‘don’t quit, just hang in there, give it another chance and/or keep trying’ sort of mentality, that I think can oftentimes be detrimental. It sort of goes along with the people pleasing mindset I mentioned in Episode 13, not wanting to disappoint others and being overly mindful of other people’s opinions. I used to seek external validation, instead of looking inward and honoring who I was.

Now that I’m older and now that I’ve grown as a person my perspective has changed tremendously. The only expectations that I need to meet are my own, no one else’s. And so changing my mind about something is perfectly fine. Sometimes something seems like a good idea at first, but then you realize it’s not. And so, instead of staying in a situation, or pursuing something that’s not beneficial to you, it’s best to just stop and leave, even if it disappoints other people. In fact, if I’m unsure about something these days, that’s usually a sign for me to just not do it at all. Anyway, the idea that it’s fine to live your truth and go about life that way is such a freeing realization, and it’s that message – that sense of freedom – that I get from this particular song. I absolutely love it, and I don’t know if I’ve heard a song address this concept in the way that Kelsea does before. Obviously, these are just my opinions and Kelsea’s reason for co-writing this and putting it on her album could be and likely is completely and vastly different from how it’s personally impacted and influenced me as a listener. I just wanted to share my thoughts about it because I enjoy the song a lot.

The next song from the album that I want to discuss is called, ‘Doin my best,’ and it was written by Kelsea Ballerini and Alysa Vanderheym. The chorus, which I love, is as follows, and I quote:

[Chorus]

“I'm doin' my best

I'm lettin' the rest roll off my shoulders, baby

Don't always get it right

Hey, and that's alright

That's what I'm learnin' lately, I keep

Growin' up, I keep

Rollin' up my sleeves and I think

That showin' up is good enough for me.”

I just think that those words are so encouraging to listeners. They remind me to keep moving forward, without worrying about perfection or dwelling on imperfection. And to just try and do what I can to make it through each day, and let go of the rest, which is typically out of my control.

The last song from the album that I want to discuss is called, ‘What I have,’ and it was written by Alysa Vanderheym, Cary Barlowe and Kelsea Ballerini. I enjoy the second verse, chorus and final chorus, which are as follows, and I quote:

[Verse 2]

“I bought the shoes where the bottom is red

But who the hell am I tryin' to impress?

When you sit back, that's when you notice

The Joneses can't even keep up with the Joneses

I know, don't gotta shine to be gold

[Chorus]

'Cause I got a roof over my hеad

I got a warm body in bed

I'm doing alright, right where I'm at

With what I havе

[Final Chorus]

I got the air, good eyes to see

Got so much more than I'll ever need

Even the bad days ain't all that bad

With what I have

I'm doin' alright, right where I'm at

With what I have.”

Being content with your current state in life is important. It’s always good to strive to be better if you feel called towards something more. But, having gratitude for where you are is so important. And this song has that sort of message, which is why I enjoy it so much. Yes, there’s a lot of amazing stuff out there, but look at what you have and don’t take it for granted. Running water, hot water, food to eat, money to buy it, your senses, your heartbeat, the ability to breathe. These are all things I once took for granted, but now I realize that absolutely nothing is guaranteed. So I try to find joy where I am. I get frustrated and feel stuck sometimes, yes, very much so, but I’m gradually doing better each day at letting go of those emotions after I allow them to surface, maybe cry a little bit, and then move on, recognizing that very little is in my control, which allows me to appreciate my life as it is.  

Many aspects of social media make it seem as if you should be looking outward, at how other people live, at how other people look, and at what other people have accomplished. However, the only thing within our control is how we can improve ourselves by searching inward and working towards our personal goals. Everyone has their own timeline. That’s what I try to keep in mind whenever I start to feel envious of other people’s accomplishments. Some people will reach my desired destination before me, and that’s okay. Maybe I’m not ready for that particular blessing yet anyway, or maybe there’s a different path that I need to take in order to get there.  Alternatively, maybe I think that I want a particular thing, but it’s not actually what I need at this point in my life. Similarly, I think about why I want that thing in the first place. Is it bringing me closer to my purpose, or is it because society tells me through ads or influencers that I should want it? Figuring out my why, and remembering my why, helps me to stay focused on what I need to do within, instead of being concerned about other people. It also helps to limit and curate my time on social media so that I’m not bombarded with certain types of content. For instance, I don’t follow many writers on social media because I’m still figuring out how to navigate that particular path in my life.

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to me talk about my favorite songs from Kelsea Ballerini’s new album. I’d love to hear your opinion about it if you’re a fan of it as well, or if  you decide to take the time to listen to her new album in the future, so please leave a comment on this episode’s post on our Instagram page at WhatGotMeThroughTheWeek, or please send an email to  whatgotmethroughpodcast@gmail.com. The transcript and audio for this episode will be posted on HyssopandEbony.com.

Until next time!

[Outro Song – “Ocean waves on busy streets, butterflies on the concrete. The beauty I could not see becomes a deeper part of me. You remind me, You are present in every single thing.”]

Intro & Outro from Magnified (a cappella) © Amber Eboni