by Alex Wilson (songwriter)
Album
AI Generated
Year
2025
Genre
Country/Pop
Duration
3:45
Description
A young woman, crowned Miss Magnolia, realizes the superficiality and constraints of her title and the expectations placed upon her. She initially embraces the dream of beauty queen stardom but gradually discovers it's a gilded cage. She sees reflections of her mother's trapped life and remembers her grandfather's authentic strength and hard work. The song follows her journey to reject the false image, reclaim her true self, and trade the burden of the crown for freedom and self-respect.
Lyrics
Verse 1: Sparkling tiara, heavy on my head, Flashbulbs popping, words I should have left unsaid. Miss Magnolia, nineteen and naive, Believing all the promises they’d weave. Daddy’s proud smile, Mama’s tear-filled eyes, Trapped inside a dream built on painted lies. That satin dress, a cage I couldn't see, Just the prize they wanted, staring back at me. Pre-Chorus: The roses on the float hid rusted chains, Whispering, “Smile pretty, numb the aches and pains.” Chorus: I ain’t just your beauty queen, a trophy on display, I’m the storm brewing, ready to blow the charade away. The girl in the spotlight, watch her start to burn, This crown you gave me, honey, now feels like a crown of thorns. Verse 2: He took me dancing at the country club that night, Said, “You’re my future, darling, shining oh so bright.” A diamond ring, a gilded cage anew, I saw my mother’s ghost reflected, shining through. Remember Grandpa’s farm, the smell of summer rain? He built with calloused hands, not whispers of champagne. That strength, that honesty, a fire in my soul, A story I’d forgotten, taking back control. Chorus: I ain’t just your beauty queen, a trophy on display, I’m the storm brewing, ready to blow the charade away. The girl in the spotlight, watch her start to burn, This crown you gave me, honey, now feels like a crown of thorns. Bridge: The mirror shows a face I barely recognize, Beneath the makeup, I see my own alibis. For selling out my spirit, for silencing my voice, But the girl who loved the dirt still has a choice. Tonight, the stage is set, the audience is hushed, But this time, my own truth will finally be rushed. Chorus: I ain’t just your beauty queen, a trophy on display, I’m the storm brewing, ready to blow the charade away. The girl in the spotlight, watch her start to burn, This crown you gave me, honey, now feels like a crown of thorns. Outro: The rhinestones scatter as I walk away, Leaving pieces of that dream for a brighter day. Crown of thorns, crown of thorns, I’m finally free. Just me. Just me.
Notes
Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar (fingerpicked verses, strummed choruses), electric guitar (light overdrive on choruses, clean arpeggios on bridge), bass guitar (walking bassline in verses, supportive in choruses), drums (brushes on verses, full kit on choruses), piano (subtle chords throughout), strings (pads in choruses and bridge for emotional depth), pedal steel guitar (subtle fills and accents). Tempo: Moderate tempo with a slight push during the choruses. Mood: Introspective and melancholic in the verses, building to powerful and defiant in the choruses. The bridge is a moment of quiet realization before the final, liberating chorus. Performance Notes: The vocals should convey a sense of vulnerability in the verses, building to strength and conviction in the choruses. Pay attention to the dynamics, building from quiet verses to full choruses. The bridge should be sung with raw emotion. The outro should be delivered with a sense of relief and newfound freedom. Possible Intro: Start with a solo piano playing a melancholic melody based on the chord progression of the verse, gradually adding acoustic guitar and bass before the vocal enters.