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WATCH: Maren Morris Returns With Introspective New Single, ‘Circles Around This Town’
Yes, that’s Reba McEntire narrating the infomercial in the music video.
Maren Morris; Photo via YouTube
Just days after the nine-year anniversary of her move to Nashville, Tennessee, Maren Morris shared “Circles Around This Town,” a new song that finds the singer/songwriter reminiscing on her journey to find her place as an artist in Music City.
Co-written by Morris alongside her husband, Ryan Hurd, as well as Julia Michaels and Jimmy Robbins, the song pays homage to Morris’ career with nods to her previous hits “My Church” and “80s Mercedes.”
The introspective track, produced by Greg Kurstin, finds Morris admitting, “so many times I thought about leaving / got my ass kicked trying to compete with / everybody else’s ones that got away / hung around long enough to catch a break.”
Throughout the chorus, Morris sings, “I drove circles around this town / Trying to write circles around this town / Trying to say something with meaning, something worth singing about / I’ve been kind, and I’ve been ruthless / Yeah, I got here, but the truth is / Thought when I hit it, it’d all look different / But I still got the pedal down / Driving circles around this town.”
The GRAMMY Award winner also shared a nostalgic music video to accompany the just-released track.
As Morris is seen pouring a bowl of cereal in the clip’s opening, Reba McEntire’s voice narrates an infomercial for the Humble Quest Hotline (HQHQ) on a TV in an adjacent room.
“Have you had a crisis? Are you going in circles? Have you cussed on a Sunday? Hey! Little brunette pacing around that kitchen. Yeah, I’m talking to you,” McEntire can be heard saying. ”Get up off your butt and go see what life can be like in humble Nashville, Tennessee. Call our hotline today!”
The narrator catches Morris’ attention with the call-to-action, which prompts her to make her way to the television, where she bangs on the TV to adjust the signal and the storyline begins to play out.
The 90s-influenced clip serves as the perfect visual for the song as Morris is seen doing some soul-searching, attempting to find her place within the music industry.
After driving in continuous circles in an empty parking lot, Morris comes to the realization that “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” She seemingly finds her path at the conclusion of the clip as she drives away from the lot.
“Circles Around This Town” follows her chart-topping duet “Chasing After You” with Hurd, and is the first taste of what’s to come on Morris’ forthcoming new album.
Morris’ yet-to-be announced new project will follow her 2019 album, GIRL, which spawned several hits, including the title track, “Bones,” and “To Hell & Back.”
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.