Ok, here’s the secret meaning behind Beyoncé’s 16 Carriages lyrics

Beyoncé had all of our jaws on the floor on Superbowl Sunday when she announced new music. And not just any music— country music, no less. This era is for the Daddy Lessons girlies. We should have seen it coming with all the disco cowgirl hats at the Renaissance world tour, tbh. Yee haw.

Anyway, one of the tracks Beyoncé has already released (she doesn’t give us a moment to breath) is called 16 CARRIAGES – a slower paced, more emotional, song than her other new single TEXAS HOLD ‘EM. And fans have started to point out the song’s lyrics have a very personal meaning behind them. So, here’s everything you need to know:

Right, so what do Beyoncé’s lyrics for 16 CARRIAGES actually mean?

Beyoncé’s 16 CARRIAGES lyrics shed some interesting light on how it felt for her to be in Destiny’s Child and performing on the world’s stage from such a young age. In the first verse she sings: “At fifteen, the innocence was gone astray / Had to leave my home at an early age / I saw Mama prayin’, I saw Daddy grind / All my tender problems, had to leave behind.”

She then appears to reference the Destiny’s Child tour, saying: “It’s been umpteen summers, and I’m not in my bed / On the back of the bus and a bunk with the band / Goin’ so hard, gotta choose myself / Undеrpaid and overwhelmed / I might cook, clеan, but still won’t fold / Still workin’ on my life, you know / Only God knows, only God knows.”

Later in the song, she then flips the timeline to talk about her recent tour and the impact it had on her home life with Jay-Z and their children: “It’s been thirty-eight summers, and I’m not in my bed,” she sings. “On the back of the bus and a bunk with the band / Goin’ so hard, now I miss my kids / Overworked and overwhelmed.”

By the bridge of the song Beyoncé even seems to talk about offering her family financial support and her father’s affair: “At fifteen, the innocence was gone astray / Had to take care of home at an early age,” she sings.  ” I saw Mama cryin’, I saw Daddy lyin’ / Had to sacrifice and leave my fears behind / The legacy, if it’s the last thing I do.”

You can read the complete lyrics to 16 CARRIAGES here:

(Chorus)
Sixteen carriages drivin’ away
While I watch them ride with my dreams away
To the summer sunset on a holy night
On a long back road, all the tears I find
Sixteen carriages drivin’ away
While I watch them ride with my dreams away
To the summer sunset on a holy night
On a long back road, all the tears I find

(Verse 1)
Fifteen innocents was gone astray
Had to leave my home at an early age
I saw mama prayin’, I saw daddy grind
All my tender problems, had to leave behind

(Pre-Chorus)
It’s been umpteenth summers and I’m not in my bed
On the back of the bus and a bunk with the bed
Goin’ so hard, gotta choose myself
Underpaid and ovеrwhelmed
I might cook, clean, but still won’t fall
Still workin’ on my lifе, you know
Only God knows, only God knows
Only God knows

(Chorus)
Sixteen carriages driving away
While I watch them ride with my feels away
To the summer sunset on a holy night
On a long back road, all the tears I find
Sixteen carriages driving away
While I watch them ride with my feels away
To the summer sunset on a holy night
On a long back road, all the tears I find

(Verse 2)
Sixteen dollars, workin’ all day
Ain’t got time to waste, I got all to make
I got love to create on this holy night
They won’t dim my light, all these years I find

(Pre-Chorus)
It’s been thirty-eight summers and I’m not in my bed
On the back of the bus and a bunk with the bed
Comin’ so hard, now I miss my kids
Overworked and overwhelmed
I might cook clean, but still won’t fall
Still workin’ on my life, you know
Only God knows, only God knows
Only God knows

(Chorus)
Sixteen carriages driving away
While I watch them ride with my fears away
To the summer sunset on a holy night
On a long back road, all the tears I fight
Sixteen carriages driving away
While I watch them ride with my fears away
To the summer sunset on a holy night
On a long back road, all these tears I fight

(Interlude)
Oh, oh
Oh

(Bridge)
At fifteen, the innocence was gone astray
Had to take care of home at an early age
I saw mama cryin’, I saw daddy lyin’
Had to sacrifice and leave my fears behind
The legacy is the last thing I do
You’ll remember me ’cause we got somethin’ to prove
In your memory, on a highway to truth
Still see your faces when you close your eyes

(Outro)
Sixteen carriages drivin’ away
While I watch them ride with my dreams away

Related articles recommended by this writer:

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• A considered ranking of all of Beyoncés six studio albums 

• From Crazy in Love to Break My Soul: Every Beyoncé lead single ranked from worst to best 

Featured image credit via YouTube