“Heart Like a Truck” by Lainey Wilson

It’s hard to imagine country music without its standard references to trucks. Such vehicles are utilized as a symbol of the rugged outback life that this genre idealizes. And in a way, it is also used as such in this piece (“Heart Like a Truck”). 

That is to say that the explanation Lainey Wilson gave of this song points to it being inspired by her previous struggles in life, specifically from her days as a starving artist.

But on top of this being country, this is also the music industry that we’re dealing with here. So the lyrics themselves aren’t actually about “finding freedom in strength”, as Lainey poetically put it. Instead, by the time all was said and done, “Heart Like a Truck” ends up reading, more or less, as a straight-up love song.

So what we are met with, instead of an ode to resiliency per se, is the songstress addressing a romantic interest. And yes, she does proclaim to have “a heart like a truck”. However, she isn’t necessarily doing so as a celebration of overcoming hard times. Instead, Lainey is making dude aware of such in the name of letting him know that she’s not, shall we say, a soft woman. 

Therefore, if he decides to take it there with her on the romantic tip, then he also has to accordingly be “ready for a ride”. Simply put, he has to be man enough to handle her strong will and emotions. But that said, the vocalist also recognizes that what she needs is “a little bit of love”, from the proper source, to soften up a notch or two.

In Conclusion

So yes, in this song Wilson does proceed to present herself as a hardened individual. But unlike what’s been insinuated in her explanations of this track, it’s not in the sense of her coming out as a stronger person resultantly. To the contrary, as presented the vocalist is actually looking forward to finding the kind of partner to mitigate her toughness, even though she perceives its advantages also.

“I got a heart like a truck
It’s been drug through the mud
Runs on dreams and gasoline
And that old highway holds the key
It’s got a lead foot down when it’s leavin’
Lord knows it’s taken a hell of a beatin’
A little bit of love is all that it’s needin’
But it’s good as it is tough
I got a heart like a truck”

Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson is a singer originally from Louisiana who, in 2021, won a couple of Academy of Country Music Awards, including “New Female Artist of the Year”. This is despite her discography already having already been half a decade old by that point, though was likely attributable to the fact that Wilson’s first hit, 2020’s “Things a Man Oughta Know”, relatedly took home the “Song of the Year” trophy. And that track is from 2021’s “Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’”, which was her debut major-label LP.

“Heart Like a Truck”

“Heart Like a Truck”, which was released on 20 May 2022, is the first solo song that Lainey has dropped since “Things a Man Oughta Know“. And this track is the lead single from “Bell Bottom Country”, Wilson’s second major-label LP (and fourth full-length overall), which was put out later that year through the BBR Music Group.

The vocalist wrote this song with Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson, whom she described as being her “dear friends”. And its producer is Jay Joyce, a behind-the-scenes’ man who has been hard in the game since the late 1990s.

Lainey Wilson performed this song at the 2022 edition of a ceremony known as the CMT Artists of the Year, which is not to be confused with the standard CMT Music Awards.

Elizabeth Olmstead was employed to direct this track’s music video.

“Bell Bottom Country”

“Bell Bottom Country” is a 14-tracked county album by Lainey Wilson an American country singer from Louisiana. The album was officially released on October 28 of 2022.

It was commercially launched through Benny Brown’s BBR Music Group, a Nashville based record label.  

“Bell Bottom Country” has a total runtime of 48 minutes and 51 seconds.

Recording took place at Neon Cross Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Musician, songwriter and record producer, Jay Joyce has been given credits for the album’s production.

Aside from the album’s 14th and final track, “What’s Up (What’s Going On)”, Lainey, had a hand in the composition of all songs on the album.