CMT Music Awards 2019: Little Big Town performs powerful single 'The Daughters'

Matthew Leimkuehler
Updated

Little Big Town brought its tour de force single "The Daughters" center stage Wednesday night at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville.

A stirring ballad that underscores unbalanced expectations put on women, the group sings: "And pose like a trophy on a shelf/ Dream for everyone, but not yourself/ I've heard of God the son and God the father/ I'm still looking for a God for the daughters."

The Grammy Award-winning country quartet released "The Daughters" earlier this year, debuting the song live at the ACM Awards in April.

Little Big Town member Karen Fairchild co-wrote the track with Sean McConnell and Ashley Ray. As highlighted in an in-depth Tennessean story last week, "The Daughters" brings lyrical attention to religion — one of a number of country songs to do so this year.

CMT Music Awards 2019: Complete list of winners and nominees

"I believe that God's love is for everyone, and I don’t think he has an equality problem," Fairchild told the Tennessean. "So much of our lives are still framed in a masculine way for men, and this was just saying where's the God for the daughters and why are we still fighting these battles."

More: For God and country: A religious revival is climbing the charts

Lyrics to Little Big Town's 'The Daughters'

Oh girl, wash your face before you come to the table

Girl, know your place, be willing and able

Take it on the chin, let the best man win

Girl, shoulders back and stand up straight

Girl, watch your mouth and watch your weight

Mind your manners, smile for the camera

And pose like a trophy on a shelf

Dream for everyone, but not yourself

I've heard of God the Son and God the Father

I'm still looking for a God for the daughters

Girl, don't be weak but don't be strong

Say what you want, just as long

As you nod your head with your lipstick on

And pose like a trophy on a shelf

Dream for everyone, but not yourself

I've heard of God the Son and God the Father

I'm just looking for a God for the daughters

I wash the dishes, feed the kids, and clean up all this mess

Do my best, forgive myself, and look good in this dress

Damn, I look good in this dress

And pose like a trophy on a shelf

I'll dream for everyone, but not myself

I've heard of God the Son and God the Father

And damn, I love my son, I love my father

I'm just looking for a God for the daughters

I'm just looking for a God for the daughters

For the daughters

I'm just looking for a God

For the daughters, for the daughters

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMT Music Awards 2019: Little Big Town performs powerful single 'The Daughters'