Way Too Pretty For Prison

Album: Wildcard (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Miranda Lambert duetting with her fellow Texan Maren Morris about getting back at a cheating man. But there is one big problem: What they have in mind involves committing a felony, and the pair don't want to end up in jail.

    But we're way too pretty for prison
    Hard time ain't our kind of livin'
    And I don't want to talk about
    The way those jumpsuits wash us out
    We're way too pretty for prison
  • Lambert got the idea for this girl anthem after a visit from her near-neighbor Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild. She recalled to The Boot that the pair had discussed setlist and production ideas for their 2018 co-headlining tour over a bottle of wine.

    Fairchild had shown up in Gucci boots and when it was time to go, Lambert told her, "You can't leave right after you've been drinking. I know you live right down the street, but it's not worth it ... In them Gucci boots, you're way too pretty for prison."

    Fairchild heeded her friend's advice and took an Uber home.
  • Lambert wrote the song with the songwriting collaborative the Love Junkies, who consist of Lori McKenna, Liz Rose and Hillary Lindsey. The trio also co-wrote Wildcard's lead single, "It All Comes Out in the Wash."
  • This is Lambert's first duet with Morris; she knew as soon as they started writing "Too Pretty For Prison" that she wanted to have her fellow Texan on the track. "It popped in my head right away, before the song was even done," Lambert said. "So, I asked her to come in and sing on it."
  • Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris performed the song live for the very first time on October 3, 2019, during their tour stop at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. It was Morris' first night opening for Lambert during her Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars tour. After performing her set, Morris joined Lambert onstage for a joint rendition of "Way Too Pretty For Prison."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."