About the song
Background:
- Released in 2016, “Dirty Laundry” wasn’t written by Carrie Underwood herself, but by songwriting trio Hillary Lindsey, Zach Crowell, and Ashley Gorley.
- Interestingly, it was their first time collaborating, although they had all written previous hits for Underwood.
- While the song title refers to literal laundry, Underwood has clarified it’s not about housework, though she does relate to the feeling of having endless laundry!
Themes:
- Infidelity: The central theme is discovering a partner’s cheating. Lyrics reference classic signs like lipstick on a collar and unfamiliar perfume.
- Empowerment: There’s a twist, though. Unlike a ballad about heartbreak, the woman in the song takes control.
- Public Humiliation: She exposes her partner’s infidelity, “airing the dirty laundry” for everyone to see.
- Moving On: The overall tone is more nonchalant than angry, suggesting she’s done with the relationship and ready to move forward.
Video
Lyrics
That lipstick on your collar, well, it ain’t my shade of pink
And I can tell by the smell of that perfume It’s like forty dollars too cheap And there’s a little wine stain on the pocket Of your white cotton thread (ah-ah) Well, you drink beer and whiskey, boy And you know I don’t drink redFound it over in the corner
Wadded up on the bedroom floor You shoulda hid it in a closet You shoulda burned it, you shoulda lost itNow, I’ma have to hang you out to dry, dry, dry (dry)
Clothespin all your secrets to the line, line, line Leave ’em blowing in the wind, to say goodbye to you (Ah-ah, oh oh, ah-ah, oh oh) All those midnights sneaking in “I’m late again, oh, I’m so sorry” All the Ajax in the world ain’t gonna clean your dirty laundryIf the neighbors get to asking, I won’t cover nothin’ up
I’ll tell ’em every little detail, how you drug me through the mud I’m gonna string up your old button down and slide it on the porch Just in case you get the nerve to come knockin’ on my doorYeah, I’ma have to hang you out to dry, dry, dry (dry)
Clothespin all your secrets to the line, line, line (line) Leave ’em blowing in the wind, to say goodbye to you (Ah-ah, oh oh, ah-ah, oh oh) All those midnights sneaking in “I’m late again, oh, I’m so sorry” All the Ajax in the world ain’t gonna clean your dirty laundryAh-ah, oh oh, ah-ah, oh oh
Found it over in the corner Wadded up on the bedroom floor You shoulda hid it in a closet You shoulda burned it, you shoulda lost itNow I’ma have to hang you out to dry, dry, dry (out to dry)
Clothespin all your secrets to the line, line, line (to the line) Leave ’em blowing in the wind, to say goodbye to you (Ah-ah, oh oh, ah-ah, oh oh) All those midnights sneaking in “I’m late again, oh, I’m so sorry” All the Ajax in the world ain’t gonna clean your dirty laundry Out to dry To the line (Ooh ah, ooh ah, ooh ah)