Miranda Lambert Calls New “Locomotive” Song “Country Punk Rock”
Miranda Lambert has new music on the way in both album and single form, and during her marquee performance at Nissan Stadium Saturday night (6-8) as part of CMA Fest in Nashville, she debuted a new song for the crowd called “Locomotive.”
“I’m just finishing up a record,” Miranda told fans that gathered for a MuttNation event earlier in the week. “I’ve always used my music for a reflection of where I am in life. Sometimes that’s good, sometimes that’s bad, ugly, who knows. But I kind of just own it at the moment. So this is kind of a record that I needed to make for me. It’s fun, it’s really fun. It’s not all love songs, don’t worry. There’s a few. But it’s got a rock n’ roll edge from spending time in New York City. It’s got this city energy vibe to it. It’s fun and exciting.”
Then at a press conference before her performance Saturday night, Miranda divulged that her new song would be called “Locomotive,” saying about the song, “I chose it for CMA Fest because it’s total country punk-rock. It’s just fun. It really is a reflection of who I am right now. You’ll know when you hear it.”
Miranda took the stage Saturday night in a black dress, and launched into “Locomotive” during her set, which certainly was a high energy affair. “Girl, I’m like a locomotive, and I don’t run out of steam…” the songs stars off, with a rapid fire chorus coming at you with, “Cause I’m sweet tea sippin’ on my front porch sittin’ while my hubby fries chicken, and I’m picking these strings…”
The second verse of “Locomotive” starts off, “I ain’t no grand piano. I play a little out of tune. I spent all of my glory days in a honky tonk saloon.” This leads into an extended rock guitar solo and eventually into a half-time beat for the last portion of the song with plenty off ooh ooh’s. Beyond grainy phone footage, it’s a little hard to get the full feel of the song, but it’s certainly a different vibe that the Americana approach of Miranda’s last record The Weight of These Wings, and fits more with her kick ass and burn things motif of earlier in her career.
“Locomotive” also fits with what Miranda Lambert said about her new music back in April when she assured, “I feel like I’m taking some risks and not being afraid. I’m going into fearless mode musically and heart wise. I feel like they go hand-in-hand. I’m jumping out there and taking risks, and I feel good about it. I’m going in and we’re making it, and we’re putting it out as fast as we can … I’m happy and I’m healthy, and I’m ready to kick ass again.”
No word just yet on if or when “Locomotive” might be released officially as either a streaming option or radio single. Here’s a little taste:
June 8, 2019 @ 9:39 pm
I really like this song. Glad to have the fiesty Miranda back…hope it’s released soon. It’s not a pop mainstream song to me more of a country rock vibe.
June 8, 2019 @ 9:43 pm
I don’t want my country-rap, don’t want my country-punk, don’t want my country-hip-hop. I just want my country to the core. I want twin fiddles and steel guitar or an acoustic with 3 chords and the truth.
June 9, 2019 @ 7:03 pm
Modern Country Pop-Hop seems to have abandoned the traditional country rhythms; the swinging two beat, the shuffle, the waltz…
I also hate the way some of these new country vocalist exaggerate the TWANG when they SANG A COOUNTRAY SAOOONG!!!!!!!
They become a caricature of a country singer. Even Junior Samples would say, “Hey, tone it down!” You never get the impression that Marty Robbins or Hank Locklin or Ray Price were trying to “sound country”…..they sang like they sang…unaffected.
You also can’t beat those old classic country recordings for their great arrangements full of super tasty licks….IMO….
June 8, 2019 @ 9:59 pm
I think it sounds pretty badass. Very here for “Kerosene” Miranda to show back up. I’m glad she had her lowkey reflective phase, as it seemed necessary for her, but I like this.
June 8, 2019 @ 10:11 pm
Just about as corny sounding as the bros who do that county rap/talk singing nonsense whatever it is. Miranda just isn’t anything punk.
June 9, 2019 @ 5:52 am
lol what do you know about punk
June 9, 2019 @ 6:28 am
Please inform us all what Miranda knows about punk.
June 9, 2019 @ 8:21 am
about as much as FGL know about “country”
June 9, 2019 @ 11:36 am
Lol
June 9, 2019 @ 11:38 am
Would that be zero then?
June 9, 2019 @ 3:37 pm
Well, she’s a fan of the Rezillos, Bad Religion, Dead Boys and worked with east bay legends Green Day, so idk maybe she knows more than a random person on saving country music claims? Shocking, I know.
June 9, 2019 @ 5:09 pm
Ordinary World is about as punk as you trying to polish this middling song into a classic with your hyperbole here and on twitter. It’s so over the top you would almost think you’re getting paid for it.
June 10, 2019 @ 2:50 am
Ordinary World is a ballad, yes.. it’s not even very good, nor is what GD has made for the last 15 years, but they’re still east bay punk legends since 1987, so it was a fair example. And I noticed you didn’t address anything besides that one soft Green Day song and ignored the other examples. That’s curious
I’m not on Twitter.
June 10, 2019 @ 5:34 am
I googled your name drops and couldn’t find a single source that’s why I skipped that part and went straight to your other fallacy that anything she had to do with Green Day was punk.
Yes you are on twitter. We have even discussed you giving away, sorry offering to ‘buy’ randoms tickets to Miranda shows right here on this website. How many of these ‘fan’ accounts do you have that you can’t keep your backstories straight anymore?
June 10, 2019 @ 6:38 am
I had a twitter account about a year ago, and the delicious irony of you saying I cannot keep accounts together is amazing since you used to post under a different username here when we talked about that. How many SCM names do you use to keep your different personalities in order Texas dude? Kinda creepy.
Also, it takes a sorta dumb person to think that she knows nothing about punk rock just because she worked with a punk band on a particular track that isn’t so punk. The hurdles your mind when over for that one must really exhaust you.
June 10, 2019 @ 8:44 am
One thing you can count on when shill accounts get exposed, ad hominem attacks. Never fails. I changed my name very obviously and kept posting as myself. FYI you might want to mix things up a bit because even though you go by several different names on SM when you post the exact same copy/paste drivel it’s very obvious to see that’s its you.
June 10, 2019 @ 1:09 pm
Bullshit. This is my one and only name on here and trigger can back me up if he’s got access to IP addresses. You’re a moron.
Also, I’m so sorry you couldn’t find a source on those bands. It’s too bad that The Boot or SCM didn’t report on Miranda posting screenshots of what she’s listening to in her Instagram story that day. ????
June 10, 2019 @ 4:13 pm
You do realize we, me and you, talked about what was happening on Twitter with Maren being attacked by Miranda fans right as their tour was announced. That was bit more than a couple of weeks ago not last year. I don’t know why you feel the need to be so dishonest but you do you.
June 10, 2019 @ 4:28 pm
Folks, enough of this please. Take your flame war back to Twitter, and let’s try to keep the comments on the matter at hand. Thanks!
June 8, 2019 @ 10:22 pm
Nope
June 8, 2019 @ 10:25 pm
Either you’re going to really like this song, or you are going to really hate this song. I for one will reserve judgement until I hear the studio cut.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:19 am
Good point, this could sound drastically different with some tweaks to the instrumentation.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:27 am
Why not criticize as you do regarding Eric Church, Jason Aldean, etc.. Then we hear about them selling out to rock vs. TRUE country. Lots of hypocrisy on this site. Lots of talk about groups and individuals selling out to make money; and when Turnpike goes on tour with Miranda, no such talk. Why do you think they did it — I would guess to expand their base and make more money.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:40 am
This is just a news story, not a review. If and when “Locomotive” is released as a single, then I will give my opinions then. In the interim, it would be irresponsible to call this song out based off of grainy footage taken sideways with bad sound from 150 yards at a stadium show.
As for the Turnpike Troubadours selling out by going on tour with Miranda Lambert, that is your opinion. I have NEVER criticized any artist for going out on tour with a bigger band, not Turnpike, not Marty Stuart or Dwight Yoakam opening for Eric Church, not Sturgill touring with Zac Brown or Guns n’ Roses, not Hellbound Glory going out with Kid Rock, anyone. In fact I actively encourage it. I think it’s one of the best ways to get good music in front of more people. Also, it’s rarely a big payday for these bands. Often they take a pay cut to do it simply for the exposure.
June 9, 2019 @ 3:53 pm
There’s a regular, non-sideways version of the whole song on Utube…
(Although, the vid is still taken from the cheap seats !)
I would have posted a link but didn’t know if that was allowed….
By the way, I’m new to the site and I appreciate what you’re trying to do…
June 9, 2019 @ 4:21 pm
Hey T-grondo.
Thanks for reading and glad you found the site. Links are fine as long as they’re appropriate to what’s being discussed. Sometimes comments with links are sent to moderation first, but I’ll get to them.
June 9, 2019 @ 12:52 am
Waiting till the studio release for full notes, but if someone is to claim the title of “country punk,” it has to be Sarah Shook.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:23 am
Miranda is employing the term “punk” here as a synonym for high energy and attitude, and she was also speaking off-the-cuff, not professing that she’s the second coming of Jason and the Scorchers. I agree that as someone who enjoys true “country punk” it can be a little grating to see some mainstream star adopt that term. But I don’t think that’s what’s going on here, and I don’t think we should be too sensitive. Ultimately, the song will either stand on its own, or it won’t.
June 9, 2019 @ 10:30 am
I think Miranda, in her description of “Locomotive” as “country punk rock” may be about three and a half decades too late to the party. Back in the mid-1980s, there was a “cowpunk” band here in Los Angeles that I would wager more than a few folks have heard of called Lone Justice. Their lead singer was the feisty Maria McKee; and they had a habit of doing rootsy C&W/rock with a punkish attitude. Maria, on her self-titled solo debut in 1989, gave us “Drinkin’ In My Sunday Dress”, a slice of punkish country that a lot of people unfortunately overlooked in the day..
June 9, 2019 @ 11:16 am
Saving Country Music started 11 years ago as primarily a country punk website, covering underground country music that was been taken up by many former punk musicians who were going back to their roots, and were being led by Hank Williams III. Over the years I did scores of articles tracing back the roots of country punk, and the only reason I don’t cover it as much any more is because that scene has become greatly diminished and there’s just not that much of it, especially in the absence of Hank3. Nonetheless I try to cover whatever is out there, and Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, who are probably pretty close to what we have as a country punk headliner in 2019, won the Saving Country Music Album of the Year last year.
I think it’s important to hold on to the sanctity of these subgenre categories. “Outlaw” country has most certainly been co-opted over the years, and if country punk was, this would be an unfortunate development. But I have no concern that’s what’s going on here. I think Miranda was just speaking off-the-cuff. My concern for “Locomotive” is that it COULD be a list-tasic arena rock wank off, not that Miranda Lambert is trying to exploit the legacy of The Knitters, who barely anyone knows about these days anyway. I think folks are making way too much of this. She was just speaking extemporaneously.
June 10, 2019 @ 5:31 am
I really miss Jason and the Scorchers. What a great band. Their version of “19th Nervous Breakdown” is a classic.
June 9, 2019 @ 3:59 am
I’m going to wait until the whole song is released. But, I certainly don’t like that description… ????
June 9, 2019 @ 5:04 am
Was wondering how Miranda would sound on a song like that, she did good I like it.
June 9, 2019 @ 5:51 am
It’s amazing just like pretty much everything else she does. She’s country royalty. One of the all-time greats. Be glad you’re living in the same time as her. Go see her live if you know what’s good for ya.
June 9, 2019 @ 5:54 am
“while my hubby fries chicken and I’m picking these strings” gives a little better context to the meaning behind the song. She’s gonna keep doing music and it’s gonna be damn near impossible to stop her. I approve of this message!
June 9, 2019 @ 5:55 am
Come on, vogue
June 9, 2019 @ 7:05 am
Madonna…..is that you…?
June 9, 2019 @ 5:59 am
That’s a no for me dawg
June 9, 2019 @ 6:03 am
Wow this is great. Riveting lyrics. Waiting for the remix with Zac Brown. Maybe we can get real lucky and Billy Ray can write another verse.
June 9, 2019 @ 6:48 am
That’s not punk rock. It sounds exactly like what Carrie Underwood is putting out.
June 9, 2019 @ 6:53 am
I think I like it…that woman can really sing, for one thing. But it doesn’t sound to me much different than stuff she’s done in the past like Little Red Wagon. I’ve always liked those kinds of songs of hers, like Kerosene with the Steve Earle vibe.
June 9, 2019 @ 6:56 am
Watched more clips I love it already!
June 9, 2019 @ 7:02 am
Well….it’s in E. I wouldn’t call it Cowpunk. It’s uptempo I IV V Rock. (nothing wrong with that)
Although, I wouldn’t mind if somebody brought back Cowpunk… Then everyone can shave off those big humongous beards….! (and take off grand-dad’s hat)
June 9, 2019 @ 7:31 am
Finally she got back to her roots!
June 10, 2019 @ 6:40 am
I finally made it
June 9, 2019 @ 7:36 am
Cowpunk has been a “thing” for a long time. Check out the Beat Farmers and then ask yourself again if you don’t want country-punk.
June 9, 2019 @ 7:38 am
I like some of the lyrics. Love how it starts out “Girl, I’m like a locomotive, and I don’t run out of steam” (strong statement) & something about how her husband gives her wings. I don’t have much of an opinion yet as it’s hard to make out most of the lyrics to really understand the song. Will wait to hear studio cut over cell phone quality audio. Agree with Trigg that it reminds me of her earlier burning shit sound.
I prefer rock in my country than pop in my country. First glimpse of her new music being more rock doesn’t mean she isn’t going to have more traditional or 90s country on the new record as well. Fingers crossed. Also glad she said she will have some love songs.
June 9, 2019 @ 7:53 am
I’m impressed
June 9, 2019 @ 8:01 am
Woof. Going to reserve full judgment until I hear a studio cut, but this isn’t really doing much for me and Miranda is my favorite artist.
I remember being absolutely blown away by Vice the first time that I heard it. I much prefer the mournful mea culpa of The Weight of These Wings and was hoping that her new music would be more TWOTW/Interstate Gospel than Platinum.
June 9, 2019 @ 8:30 am
I’ve been playing in a cowpunk band for four years, and this definitely not cowpunk. It sounds like she ripped off some ZZ Top riffs and added dumbass lyrics. Pop country at its finest if you ask me.
June 10, 2019 @ 8:25 pm
It honestly sound like she ripped off Ballroom Blitz (by a hair band) and added her own lyrics to this 1974 song.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:05 am
Sweet tea sippin’ front porch sittin’ guitar pickin’ fried chicken um…
June 9, 2019 @ 9:26 am
It’s a yes for me. Don’t know why she even said punk at all. Nothing punk here. Country rock. Fun song and very Miranda of old.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:29 am
From what I can tell, I am not excited about this, but I will reserve judgement.
As much as I love Miranda there are always one or two songs on every album that I don’t care for. Hoping this is a “Pink Sunglasses”…a misstep on an otherwise great album.
June 9, 2019 @ 9:51 am
It ain’t “punk rock” but it sounds like a really fun, cool track. For me, Lambert is one of the most consistently awesome country artists out there, right now. The Weight of These Wings and Interstate Gospel are two of my favorite country albums from the past few years, and I’m sure I’m going to love whatever she does next.
June 9, 2019 @ 10:27 am
Sounds good to me. Who cares if she used the word punk? She just meant up beat, guitar driven song. You complainers need to quit being so literal.
Sounds along the lines of Little Red Wagon or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Thumbs up!
June 9, 2019 @ 11:29 am
I didn’t like either of those either.
June 9, 2019 @ 10:58 am
Maybe southern rock…WTF would she call it punk or country?
June 9, 2019 @ 11:18 am
Guess she doesn’t plan to have privacy with the hubby, since it’s her inspiration.
June 9, 2019 @ 11:27 am
Sounds to me like she’s selling out.
June 9, 2019 @ 12:10 pm
I heard the whole song on Youtube, I don’t need to hear the studio version because it’s probably not much different than the live version. What country needs is to get back to its roots, it’s traditional sounds fiddles and steel guitar and lyrics that told a story or painted a picture. Country music at one time had its own identity, it was an American art form…We don’t need any more bro-country/rap/punk…We don’t need FGL we need more Alan Jackson, George Strait. and Randy Travis we need more Loretta Lynn Tammy Waynette and Reba McEntire…Not Maren Morris Kacey Ballerini or this pile of shit by Miranda Lambert, who can and has sung straight-ahead traditional country. She CAN do a lot better than this.
June 9, 2019 @ 12:20 pm
Ah, some news I’ve been waiting for hear! Hopefully the new album comes out soon. I’ve always been a huge fan of Miranda Lambert and was always hoping for a return to the sound of her earlier records. I haven’t been a huge fan of four the record and platinum. weight of these wings was a nice step away. This song is more in line for the crazy ex girlfriend, kerosene, revolution sound I’ve been missing. Can’t wait to hear what other songs she’s been making.
June 9, 2019 @ 1:55 pm
Come on, vogue. That’s what this is.
June 9, 2019 @ 3:55 pm
I was there last night when she performed and it sounded great. Doesn’t seem like too much of a departure…it’s along the lines of “That’s the way the word goes round” from her Revolution record and “Little Red Wagon.” Great def all around.
June 9, 2019 @ 4:31 pm
A clearer video can be found on the (sorry) Rolling Stone web site. It popped up in the Google news on my tablet so I did watch it. It sounds like pre- Weight of These Wings Miranda. Nothing “punk” about it. That was obviously just an off-the-cuff remark as Trigger said. One thing I do take away from it: Cop Boy fries her chicken. So the especially rabid Miranda fans are going to love it!
June 9, 2019 @ 4:42 pm
I posted a better video up above.
June 9, 2019 @ 5:21 pm
I barely made it thru listening to this ‘song’. I know it isn’t country, it is bad rock, it is bad rap, it is bad pop, it is bad puck, but it is good crap!
June 9, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
R.I.P real Country Music.
June 10, 2019 @ 4:05 am
I’m struggling with listening to her right now. I used to really like her. I loved Vice off of her last record. I thought it was really raw and self-aware. But since the whole EF/TT situation, I can’t stomach her. In my head I know it’s not her fault that they are on a break, but sh*t. I’m disappointed in her behavior and it subsequently makes me not want to listen to her. Of course I don’t apply those same feelings to Evan, which isn’t fair and I know that. I guess I expected more out of her because she did seem to be self-aware. I do think she’s very talented, but….Right or wrong, that’s just the way I’m feeling about it and her right now.
June 10, 2019 @ 5:18 am
Miranda, you must educate yourself a little! and stop copying sounds and lyrics! It’s a lyrics of AS!
June 10, 2019 @ 6:37 am
This is why you cant have women in Country Music. They all want to be something else, like Johnny Rotten here. And the list goes on. BTW, Carries song Southbound is a pile of stinking shit.
June 10, 2019 @ 12:32 pm
Really? Should we lose the right to vote and drive too? We’ll call your cave when we need your opinion again.
June 10, 2019 @ 1:12 pm
Terrible comment Mike. How can you tell the story of the country when you count out half its population? Just because you don’t like this song or Carrie Underwood’s “Southbound” (can’t blame you there) doesn’t mean women can’t or haven’t made good country music at all. You’re not battling feminism, you’re fueling it.
June 10, 2019 @ 4:03 pm
Bullshit, trigger, And its bullshit you removed my post. Because I dont see any women that are advancing the historic Country Music tradition I’m a caveman? Weak fucking argument by a weak fucking mind. Emotional bullshit leading political thought these days on the side of the party with a history of repression. Shania, Swifty, Underwood, Crystal Gayle, Olyvia Newton John, Barbara Mandrell, later Reba. That shit ain’t Country Music, and that’s what we get when female singers become popular. Females move the musical narrative to pop everytime they start selling records.
June 10, 2019 @ 4:38 pm
“Females move the musical narrative to pop everytime they start selling records.”
There’s also dozens of females who are working just as hard as the men to uphold the traditions of country music, and your blanket statement was disrespectful to them all. You’re gonna tell me that Charlie Marie, Brennen Leigh, Teea Goans, Tommy Ash, Sarah Gayle Meech, and a dozen others I could name aren’t doing just as much as men? Hate on the women of mainstream country all you want. I just think it’s disrespectful and shortsighted to classify all of anyone as anything.
June 10, 2019 @ 8:22 pm
I’m just floored that you’re a misogynist, MikeHoncho, absolutely dumbfounded. And here I was thinking you were very cool, progressive dude. Egg on my face, I suppose.
June 10, 2019 @ 7:00 am
First off, I’m a forever Miranda Lambert Fan. She is one artist that puts out albums I can listen to thru and thru. From the very first one I can never get sick of.My my she is a talent. There will be alot more of Miranda, anyway, the next decade. She is at a point where she doesn’t have to be out there day after day. Her success, her likes of simple things has made it possible….And her FANS. They are the greatest, most always have Miranda’s back! She does get more hate, but there are times you wonder if they aren’t fans that delight in keeping up with Miranda. We do know they sure help to keep her out there. Loved the New Music, Miranda you light that stage where ever you perform. You have something about you !!!!!
June 10, 2019 @ 7:18 am
If you’re a songwriter, this is a throw-away song.
But if you’re entertaining tens of thousands in a stadium, this is easy money.
Not my thing, but I understand why she does these songs.
June 10, 2019 @ 7:48 am
To all of you freaking out in the comments, you could easily swap out Eric Church singing it, and it would be hailed. I’m sure it’ll still be very country, and it’s hard to tell from an early live cut anyway.
June 10, 2019 @ 8:06 am
Adam Hood has a song called Locomotive. Although they sound nothing alike, I can’t help but wonder if his song was inspiration for using similar analogies during the creative process.
June 10, 2019 @ 8:08 am
Well she has history: how a out Kennedy Chesney’s Tin Man.
June 10, 2019 @ 10:07 am
do we know who her co-writes on this song are?
June 11, 2019 @ 2:11 pm
Written by. Miranda, Ashley Monroe, and KS Rhodes
June 11, 2019 @ 3:54 pm
Well you know your music very well, who is Kennedy?! Lol
June 13, 2019 @ 10:22 am
I guess you never misspelled. Probably don’t know who Chesney is if you are one of her stans. He has been a mega success selling out stadiums year after year. Success Miranda certainly has never found.
June 10, 2019 @ 1:36 pm
This video has been removed, apparently.
June 10, 2019 @ 6:20 pm
Love it! Glad to see Miranda has her fire back.
June 10, 2019 @ 6:56 pm
Bad version of Aerosmith’s Train Kept a Rollin. Not good and not country. Plus she is Toxic.
June 13, 2019 @ 12:45 pm
SERIOUSLY? Did Kenny Chesney steal it from the band America, then? Same title, totally different songs. And Lambert has been selling out stadiums for years. I think drinking too much PBR has kiiled too many of your brain cells.
June 13, 2019 @ 12:57 pm
I like Miranda Lambert but I don’t much care for this song. Lyrics are a little inane.