They say you can never tell a book by its cover, and sometimes you can’t tell a song by the title. Little Big Town experienced this with “Girl Crush,” and the same applies to RaeLynn’s new single “Love Triangle,” her first since signing with Warner Music Nashville. Based on those two words, it’s easy for one to think it’s about an affair, but upon listening, that theory is debunked: it’s a much more personal song written about the feelings and experiences RaeLynn had as a child due to her parents’ divorce.
While divorce is never easy for the adults, it can be especially hard on the children. RaeLynn captures the pain and “pulling” feeling between her mother and her father vividly. In the two pre-choruses, she creates a vision of the hurt she felt when she left her mom to spend time with her dad, and how that pain then reversed when her dad brought her back to her mom two weeks later:
(First pre-chorus)
Then I run to Him
Big Hug, Jump In
And I cry for her
Out the window
(Second pre-chorus)
Then I run to her
Wrap my arms around her skirt
And I cry for him
Out the window
“Love Triangle” is much slower in pace than her previous singles which allows not only RaeLynn’s vocals to shine through, but also her conviction of the lyrics. This is her story, her catharsis, and the listener can feel that coming through. It’s the marking of a true artist.