Keeper of the Flame

Album: The Weight of These Wings (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Miranda Lambert penned this empowering anthem to inner strength with Natalie Hemby, who's been writing with Lambert since 2009's Revolution, and Taylor Swift hitmaker Liz Rose ("Teardrops on My Guitar").
  • The song originated from a late-night text message sent by Lambert to Hemby. "One time, [Lambert] sent me a text in the middle of the night," Hemby recalled to American Songwriter. "It said, 'like fireflies in the rain.' I think she was watching a storm. I texted back, 'I'm the keeper of the flame.'"

    Lambert and Hemby later hashed out the rest of the song with the help of Rose.
  • The track was written during the very public dissolution of Lambert's marriage to Blake Shelton. During the song Lambert determines to move forward as she reflects on her responsibilities as:

    The keeper of the flame
    The teller of the story
    The keeper of the flame
    For the ones that came before me


    Lambert finds courage by looking back at the craft and bravery of her songwriting forerunners.
  • "Keeper of the Flame" was the name of Lambert's 2016 headlining tour.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.