Christina Munsey doesn’t know how to slow down in “mileage”

Country singer-songwriter Christina Munsey has followed her cover of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” with the original single “mileage.” With well-crafted lyrics and relaxing instrumentation, the single stands with the sounds of Kacey Musgraves and Ingrid Andress.

“mileage” is all about the fear of falling behind in life. The passing of time holds most of the emotional weight of the song as Munsey admits that, “I seem to see grey hairs and weak bones.” The songwriter states her hopes in the first half of each verse before divulging her insecurities over needing to be constantly changing: “leaves keep changing I don’t know what season it is now.” By leaving the striking imagery till the end of each verse, Munsey subtly builds up the tension for listeners, emphasising the revealing tone of the song.

In the chorus, the North Carolina native cleverly sets up the song’s title analogy with the lyrics “And I, I wake up / I swear I’m 10 years older,” which lays out the crux of the singer’s worries. This fear of dawdling is then perfectly encapsulated in the final lines, “I don’t want the mileage / But I can’t stop driving.” The analogy is simple, yet makes the song feel all the more relatable. It’s this balance between imagery and bluntness in her lyrics that makes “mileage” feel like a personal confession.

Accompanying these lyrics is some grounded acoustic and twangy steel electric guitars. The country style of the guitars adds to the song’s anxiety-ridden lyrics. Some wide but punchy drums sitting in the back of the mix is all that Munsey needs to tie the song together and create the rhythm that pushes it forward.

“mileage” by Christina Munsey brings a new spin to a popular genre and style, bringing a universal yet undiscussed fear to the forefront of her music. The lyrics give weight to some grounded instrumentation, giving “mileage” a personal yet somber sound.