Music Review: Lady Antebellum "Just A Kiss"

Lady Antebellum

Just A Kiss

Album: Own The Night

Year: 2011

           A couple decides to wait to make love in the clearheaded “Just A Kiss.”        

         A sweet-tempered piano opens the single, setting an adoring tone. An explosion goes off from movie playing in the background. Hillary Scott, though, is gazing into her boyfriend’s eyes, captivated by his soft smile. She touches his chest, tempted to pull his shirt up over his head. (“Lyin' here with you so close to me/It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe/Caught up in this moment/Caught up in your smile.”)

        She’s his first serious girlfriend. He’s flirted with women, however, he’s been nervous to make the first move. When they start showing interest, he can only stare down at the floor when they talk to him. Usually, the women give up on him after a while. However, Scott would often start the conversations with him. Eventually, she mentioned going out one night for dinner and they began dating. He puts his hands on around her waist as she stretches out on the couch, drawing her face closer to his. They share a passionate kiss. Underneath her shirt, his hands are shaking. Between kisses, she whispers that they can stop at any time. Sex doesn’t need to happen now. (“I've never opened up to anyone/So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms/We don't need to rush this/Let's just take it slow.)

           In the chorus, he leans his head on the couch, apolozing. She tells him she’s ok with only making out for now. She’s doesn’t want to move too fast only to break up a few months later.  They have to be ready together and it’s all that matters. She believes they can have a meaningful relationship. (“Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight/Just a touch of the fire burning so bright/No I don't want to mess this thing up/I don't want to push too far/Just a shot in the dark that you just might/Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life/So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight.”)

         Scott adds she doesn’t have a specific timetable for each moment in their relationship. They can learn more about each other. As their emotional intimacy grows, it will make their first time a positive experience. What they have is genuine and it’s not something she wants to lose. (“I know that if we give this a little time/It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find/It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right.”)

          The chorus is sung again.

       In the bridge, she gets up from the couch and as he hands her her jacket. He puts his hands on her shoulders and she leans into him. She looks to the left, where she can see royal blue bedspread on his bed and says she should go. He says she doesn’t have to go. They can only sleep in his room. She shakes her head no, saying it wouldn’t be right. But she will be thinking of the kiss they had for the rest of the night.  (“No I don't want to say goodnight/I know it's time to leave, but you'll be in my dreams/Tonight/Tonight/Tonight.”)

         The chorus is sung again.

         Both sing “with a kiss goodnight/Kiss goodnight” to end the single.

       Scott’s practical, attentive vocals are cautious, taking heed of Kelley’s anxiousness and sensitivity. While she’s the experienced one in the relationship, she doesn’t want him to be pressured to compete with any of the guys she has been with.  He’s been good and patient with her.  Now, she sees it as her turn to be the same with him.

      It’s worth noting how the gender roles are reversed. Scott is the one determining the rules of the relationship, making the decision to stop before it goes any further. Kelley, while aroused, is riddled with nerves as he thinks he lose his implied virginity.

    The logical “Just A Kiss” takes a step forward in a different direction, crushing some clichés along its way.