Megan Moroney’s ‘Am I Okay?’: 5 Songs That Solidify Her ‘Emo Cowgirl’ Status

We have all been eagerly awaiting the release of Megan Moroney’s sophomore album, Am I Okay? and the day is finally here. If you haven’t already listened, here is your warning: this collection puts Moroney’s painfully honest songwriting on display more than ever with tracks that are guaranteed to hit a nerve and possibly even awaken some suppressed emotions. 

The Kristian Bush produced project was mainly recorded live with a full band at Nashville’s legendary Blackbird Studio and acts as a continuation of her debut album, Lucky. She dubs this project “Lucky’s cooler older cousin that can drink” because her approach to building out these songs was very similar in the fact that she never shied away from sharing some of her most personal stories that hone in on the rollercoaster of life that is your 20’s.

“After putting Lucky out and getting to a point where my fans and I know each other so much better, I felt like I could open up and discuss things I’ve never talked about in my music before,” says Moroney. “Sometimes it almost feels like oversharing, but I feel like I have a responsibility to all the people who send me DMs or talk to me at shows and tell me how my songs helped them through a breakup or a bad time in their lives. If I can write about my heartbreak and make someone else feel like there’s a way out, then of course I’m going to keep doing that.”

You will experience plenty of different emotions while listening to the entire full-length project as Moroney tackles themes of heartbreak, devastating loss, and loneliness while also paying tribute to the people who have been there to pick up the pieces and the moments of joy she found along the way. 

While every song makes a powerful impact, there are a few tracks in particular that will absolutely wreck you. Below, find five songs off Am I Okay? that truly define Megan Moroney’s “Emo Cowgirl” status. 

“28^th of June”

Fans got an early taste of the project through several advance releases including, “28^th of June.” Penned by Moroney with Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Micah Carpenter, the tear-jerker illustrates just how hard the aftermath of a breakup can be. Even though she’s attempting to move on, she admits she finds herself feeling pulled back time and time again when the past is resurrected in moments like what-would-have-been anniversary dates. Moroney’s raspy vocals add to the emotion of the ballad, allowing listeners to understand while she knows the hurt will fade eventually, she has yet to reach that point in her healing journey. 

“Mama I Lied”

Megan Moroney offers a heavy dose of reflection on her high school days in “Mama I Lied.”  She uses this song as an opportunity to get a few things off her chest by coming clean about lies she told her mom at 16 years old, including when she said “the bottle ain’t mine” and that she would never smoke weed. However, the most difficult secret to keep was the fact that the boy who she made out to be a good guy was actually treating her very poorly. Written by Megan Moroney, Ben Williams, David “Messy” Mescon, and Rob Hatch, “Mama I Lied” exemplifies the growth and maturity that comes with getting older, and highlights the pride that comes with finally having the courage to speak up after suffering for far too long. 

“The Girls”

As she nears the end of the album, the Georgia native takes a break from the heartbreak ballads to focus on a happier note in a song that honors “The Girls.” Even though there is more joy found within these lyrics, emotions are still just as high as Moroney tenderly pays tribute to the friends who have always been there when times get tough and when the boys break her heart. With the help of co-writers Ben Williams, Michah Carpenter, and Mackenzie Carpenter, Moroney preaches “God bless the girls” and paints a picture of the importance of female friendships.

“Heaven By Noon”

It’s essential to have tissues close by when listening to “Heaven By Noon” because this song illustrates a kind of pain like no other. Throughout the gut-wrenching ballad, Moroney appears to be having an honest conversation with someone close to her who she lost unexpectedly. She sings through the sadness and anger as she wonders why this had to happen and constantly replays their final conversation in her head, wishing she could have said a proper goodbye. But even through all the pain, she also finds peace in knowing that the person is in a better place now. What makes this song that much more powerful is the fact that it was inspired by the true story of her uncle’s passing on 9/11.

“A lot of people don’t know this, but my uncle died on 9/11, so I thought about my aunt when I was writing that song because… the last thing they talked about was an oil change. And so that’s probably not what she would’ve said, wanted to say to him if she knew it was going to be the last time… It’s definitely a heart-wrenching song, and I hope that it helps,” she told Kelleigh Bannen on Today’s Country Radio on Apple Music Country.

“Hell of a Show”

The final track of the project titled “Hell of a Show” is proof that no matter how great someone’s life may seem, you never know what’s truly going on behind the scenes. This is one of only two solo writes Moroney has on Am I Okay? and she elevated the already powerful narrative by recording it with just her vocals and an acoustic guitar. Amid the stripped-down production and delicate strums, Moroney takes listeners back to a time when she was in the midst of achieving all her dreams of selling out shows and watching excited fans line up just to see her perform. Even though there was so much good happening, this soul-bearing track reveals that she was actually trying not to cry moments before taking the stage because of a boy who was “so damn mean to me.” Moroney told Bannen that “Hell of a Show” evolved from a poem she wrote in the back of her bus when she finally came to the conclusion that she had to break away from this toxic person.

“It was just one of those situations where I’m like, ‘I have a sold-out tour. It’s my debut album, sold out. People are showing up at 10 A.M. They’ve got shirts on. It’s like everything I’ve ever wanted. And I am crying before I go on stage because of an asshole?’