Miranda Lambert Releases Steel-Soaked Acoustic Performance Video Of Divorce Anthem, “Alimony”

To put it in her words, “honky tonk as hell.”

Today, Miranda Lambert released a spirited acoustic performance video of her most recent song “Alimony,” which will be included on her forthcoming 10th studio album, Postcards from Texas.

The album was produced by Miranda alongside Jon Randall at Austin’s legendary Arlyn Recording Studios, and she previously said that it’s full of steel guitar and honky tonk production which is already proving to be the case with this one.

A boot-stompin’, throwback-style country song that can be played in massive arenas and small honky tonk beer joints alike, it’s pure country in every way and finds her worried that a marriage is on the brink of ending. Though, she is consoled by the fact that she will receive a pretty sum in alimony should they wind up getting divorced:

“And I Called That Lawyer Up In Dallas

The One Who’s Livin’ In That Palace

So I Know He’s Good At Winnin’

If You Think There’s Somethin’ That You’re Missin’

And You Start Steppin’ Out

Only One Thing Can Console Me

If You’re Gonna Leave Me In San Antone

Remember The Alimony”

Of course, y’all know I think everything sounds better stripped-back in an acoustic style like this, and Miranda’s twangy Texas vocals fits this type of production so perfectly.

This is easily my favorite release of the three songs we’ve heard so far, and it really doesn’t get more country than this. Check it out:

Written by Miranda alongside Natalie Hemby and Shane McAnally, here’s a little bit more on the inspiration behind the song:

“We were out in my barn; I was showing Shane and Natalie the horses, and I asked if he had any other titles. He said he had one, and I was like, ‘What is it? Because your last one was ‘Looking Back on Luckenbach,’ which I didn’t think you could top.

He said, ‘Well, ‘If you’re gonna leave me in San Antone, remember the Alamo-neeeee…’’ Natalie and I were like, ‘Alright, Shane! Stop showing off.’”

Miranda says she wanted a shuffle to add into her set list, and “Alimony” was born:

“We went back to the house and got the guitars and I specifically was like, ‘I want a shuffle, man.’ I love to shuffle so much, and this record needed a shuffle!

I knew I wanted one in my set, because I haven’t done one in a while – and everybody loves a shuffle.”

Miranda’s parents were private investigators while she was growing up, and worked plenty of divorce cases in “highfalutin parts of town”:

“My parents were private investigators in Dallas, Texas who worked a ton of divorce cases in highfalutin parts of town, so this wasn’t hard to write. I’d heard about it my whole life.

And once we had the line – If you’re gonna leave me in San Antone, remember the alimony – we were off! We used every Texas metaphor we could come up with on purpose; we wanted to take something kind of shitty and put some humor back in it.

I mean, the guy gets out pretty easy if all he does is move back in with his mom.”

Touché… hard to argue with that.

This type of tongue-in-cheek humor defined the early parts of Miranda’s career and really set her apart, coupled with her direct approach and honesty in terms of getting to the point, and in my humble opinion, it’s what she does best.

I love songs that make what’s usually a sad topic like this and turn it on its head, and like I said, Miranda low-key has me wanting to get a divorce now? It’s that good (and fun).

Postcards from Texas is due out everywhere on September 13th.

The studio cut:

“Alimony”

Postcards from Texas tracklist:

Armadillo (Aaron Raitiere, Jon Decious, Parker Twomey)

Dammit Randy (Miranda Lambert, Brendan McLoughlin, Jon Randall)

Looking Back on Luckenbach (Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby)

Santa Fe feat. Parker McCollum (Miranda Lambert, Jesse Frasure, Jessie Jo Dillon, Dean Dillon)

January Heart (Brent Cobb, Neil Medley)

Wranglers (Audra Mae, Evan McKeever, Ryan Carpenter)

Run (Miranda Lambert)

Alimony (Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally)

I Hate Love Songs (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)

No Man’s Land (Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick)

Bitch On The Sauce (Miranda Lambert, Jaren Johnston)

Way Too Good At Breaking My Heart (Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, Jesse Frasure, Jenee Fleenor)

Wildfire (Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall)

Living On The Run (David Allen Coe, Jimmy L. Howard)