Music Review: Carrie Underwood "Good Girl"

Carrie Underwood

 Good Girl

Album: Blown Away

Year: 2012

        Carrie Underwood warns a sweet girl about her boyfriend’s mean reputation in the upfront “Good Girl.” A rugged guitar opens the single, setting a brassy tone. While she’s sitting at a table with some friends from college, she spots a chestnut-haired woman walk inside. She knows her from college also. They lived in the dorms together senior year. She waves to her come over and sit with everybody else. Her friend is an incredibly giving girl who believes in the best for the people. It worries Underwood sometimes, even more so since she found out through Facebook that she’s dating a manipulative guy. She asks her if they could talk privately. She tells her that she’s a wonderful person, but naïve about the guy she’s dating. (“Hey, good girl (hey, good girl)/With your head in the clouds/I bet you I can tell you/What you're thinkin' about.”)

    She continues to tell her that her boyfriend starts off as perfect. He’ll charm girls with promises of utter devotion. But once they become an official long-term couple, he will start breaking dates and putting her last. It only lead to hurt and pain for her. Behind his compliments is an agenda. She tells her friend to break up with him before it’s gets too serious. (“You'll see a good boy (you see a good boy)/Gonna give you the world/But he's gonna leave you cryin'/With your heart in the dirt/His lips are dripping honey/ But he'll sting you like a bee/So lock up all your love and/Go and throw away the key/Hey good girl (hey, good girl)/Get out while you can/I know you think you got a good man.”)

        In the chorus, her friend retorts that Underwood is jealous and only wants him for herself. Underwood asks her why she’s blowing off the red flags which have already begun to appear. Eventually, he will reveal the true version himself. She deserves better than him and needs to walk away now. He’s willing to do or say anything to get his way. (“Why, why you gotta be so blind?/Won't you open up your eyes?/It's just a matter of time 'til you find/He's no good, girl/No good for you/You better get to getting on your goodbye shoes and go, go, go/Better listen to me/He's low, low, low.”)

         Underwood tells her friend that she aspires for a healthy relationship with an affectionate man who will care for her. However, her current boyfriend is not marriage material. He will cheat and the word, forever, like commitment, lasts about three months tops. The relationship is on his terms, not hers. As far as she knows, he’s slept with a lot of women and she suspects may have an STD. (“Hey, good girl (hey, good girl)/You got a heart of gold/You want a white wedding/And a hand you can hold/Just like you should, girl (Just like you should, girl)/Like every good girl does/Want a fairy tale ending, somebody to love/But he's really good at lying/Yeah, he'll leave you in the dust/'Cause when he says forever/Well, it don't mean much/Hey good girl (hey, good girl)/So good for him/Better back away honey/You don't know where he's been.”)

         The chorus is sung again.

        In the bridge, she encourages her friend to heed her advice. (“Oh, he's no good, yeah/Why can't you see?/He'll take your heart and break it/Listen to me, yeah.”)

      The chorus is sung again to close the single.

        Underwood’s tough, blunt vocals strikes its heavy blows with precision, careful not to cause damage in the process. She’s looking out for her friend and wants the best for her. Her friend may not want to hear the truth about him, however, it’s necessary for her to know. Underwood’s heard enough stories from her friends to find out there is a definite pattern with him. She doesn’t want to see her good-natured friend to get caught up in his drama.

 The frank “Good Girl” takes a huge chunk out of Underwood’s wholesome image, giving her some welcome sharp edges.