Released: 2022
Lainey Wilson’s ‘Heart Like a Truck’ is a spirited anthem of resilience and wanderlust. The song paints a picture of a free-spirited woman who’s been through a lot but remains tough and ready for whatever comes her way.
The opening lines, ‘I never stay in one place too long / A dirt road’s singing me a siren song,’ establish Wilson as a restless spirit. The ‘siren song’ here refers to an irresistible call, a common term borrowed from Greek mythology. She’s drawn to the open road, always ready to ‘spin her wheels’—a phrase indicating her eagerness to get moving.
‘I got a hankering for four wide tires / And I can’t help it, it’s the way I’m wired’—this line further emphasizes her love for the road. ‘Hankering’ is a strong desire or craving, while ‘wired’ suggests it’s an inherent part of her nature.
The chorus, ‘I got a heart like a truck / It’s been drug through the mud / Runs on dreams and gasoline,’ uses the metaphor of a truck to describe her heart. Just like a truck that’s been through tough terrains, her heart has endured hardships. Yet, it continues to run on ‘dreams and gasoline,’ symbolizing hope and energy.
‘And that ole highway holds the key / It’s got a lead foot down when it’s leaving / Lord knows it’s taken a hell of a beating’—these lines reveal that the open road holds the key to her happiness. ‘Lead foot’ is a term for driving fast, suggesting she’s quick to leave troubles behind. The phrase ‘taken a hell of a beating’ means she’s been through a lot of hardships.
‘A little bit of love is all that it’s needing / But it’s good as it is tough / I got a heart like a truck’—this part indicates that despite her toughness, she still yearns for love. Her heart is as ‘good’ (kind and loving) as it is ‘tough’ (resilient).
‘Go out and see if you can knock off the dust, yeah / Shine it up, rev it up and let it run, yeah / It gets a high riding off into the sun, yeah’—these lines invite the listener to join her on this journey. ‘Knock off the dust’ and ‘shine it up’ suggest starting fresh, while ‘riding off into the sun’ is a classic image of embarking on a new adventure.
In conclusion, ‘Heart Like a Truck’ is a testament to Wilson’s strength and love for the open road. It’s a celebration of resilience, freedom, and the healing power of love.
