Love Is Reborn On Jensen McRae’s “Savannah”

Written By: Becca Williams

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With both feet officially planted in a foggy NYC spring, Jensen McRae’s newest release, “Savannah,” has become the perfect musical backdrop. 

The single, released on March 20, weaves a welcome tale of self-discovery and salvation, as McRae makes her way out of a toxic relationship to find a new life for herself in Savannah. Only, no tale is ever so cut and dry, and McRae isn’t one to sugarcoat the truth. She lays her soul bare, unabashedly sharing how her heartfelt efforts to move on were not without hardships. 

Although “Savannah” is glazed in the reliably relatable coating of rebuilding yourself after heartbreak, it could be argued that the single stands as a story of falling in love with yourself and making decisions to protect your own heart. As McRae poetically croons, “I’m in love with someone new and I’m going to Savannah.” Who’s to say that this mysterious new love, who is seemingly rescuing her from being constantly reminded of her ex, isn’t herself? 

Throughout the song, McRae offers listeners a glimpse into what made this former relationship so unhealthy. She details a former partner who is self-obsessed and uninterested in the plights of her, or anyone else. A person who she would hate to see reflected in her future children. A consistent theme of faith threads through the song, with lyrics like, “'Cause I see signs from God and I tread lightly on the wire.” It can be interpreted that, following the breakup, McRae is seeing “signs” that she should return to her toxic ex, but is actively choosing to “tread lightly” and hold strong in her decision to leave. This theme continues later in the song, with references to “haunted” spots and “ghosts.” 

On the other hand, McRae acknowledges that her ex is not dealing with the same feelings towards their breakup. When they look back on the relationship, even parts that could be considered happy, they “try to start a fire.” This shines a light on her ex’s more aggressive and intense side, proving they have been unforgiving towards her in the past. This partner “burned bridges,” possibly in this relationship or in former relationships. Eventually, they lost faith in her, which McRae cleverly alludes to with a reference to the biblical “manna.” 

In “Savannah”’s music video, released alongside the single, McRae furthers the vision of her independence. In a nostalgic tone, shown with the video’s use of film, she wanders through the streets she has been trying to avoid, reminiscing on the relationship, when she sees another version of herself—in a wedding dress. Symbolizing everything McRae once thought she would be, she follows this version of herself. She finds herself in a church, which she eventually flees

from. In the final scenes, one version of McRae is leaving the town, the wedding, the ex. Another version of herself, the one she is also choosing to leave behind, unsuccessfully chases after her. 

In “Savannah,” McRae oozes raw emotion as she embraces the next step on her personal journey, making it the perfect single to tease her upcoming sophomore album, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! The album is set to release on April 25 via Dead Oceans. If her earlier songs, including the viral hit “Massachusetts” (which will appear on the upcoming album) or my personal favorite “Wolves,” are any indication of what we can expect from her new release—this album will have me leaning my head against the subway window in a comforting mix of melancholy and longing. 

At only 27 years old, McRae has proven herself to be a musical force. The twangy poet has toured alongside Noah Kahan, MUNA, Amos Lee, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her debut album, Are You Happy Now?, released in 2022 earned rave reviews for her vulnerability and phenomenal portrait of the human (girl) experience. She will embark on her own North American and European tour this Spring, kicking off in Philly on May 3. This year will be McRae’s year—that much is certain. So our advice is to hop on the train and secure bragging rights to say, “I knew her when…”