Singer-songwriter Marie Miller is premiering her new song "Imaginary Friend" exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play below to listen to the plaintive-yet-hopeful tune.

Written by Miller, "Imaginary Friend" explores the feeling of meeting someone new and envisioning a future with them, even though you don't really know them at all yet. After a mellow, folksy intro, the story begins with the song's protagonist meeting the object of her affection at a dancehall, then building a dreamy narrative about this potential new romance in her own mind.

"I met him in a dancehall / One smile and I was sold / He held on for a moment I'm still trying to echo / All the dreams I had been dreaming came alive in light green eyes," Miller sings. "I don't even know who you are / Every hole, I fill with stars, but they shatter the dark / But our love will never end, because it never began / Oh, my dear, imaginary friend."

According to Miller, the song's lyrics have roots in her love of classic literature and fairytales, both of which she admits may have set up some unrealistic expectations about what it means to fall in love. "I grew up reading classic literature and fairytales and developed quite the imagination," she tells The Boot. "Although this has been helpful as an artist, my imagination has not always been the most helpful in love."

"Imaginary Friend" is the Nashville-based Miller's first new music since her 2017 album Letterbox. Prior to that record's release, she shared the stage with artists including Five For Fighting, Backstreet Boys and Sara Evans; following the release of Letterbox, however, Miller parted ways with her longtime label, Curb Records, to focus on folk and Americana music.

Early next year, Miller has plans to release a brand new full-length album. Visit MarieMillerMusic.com to keep up with her goings-on.

Listen to Marie Miller's "Imaginary Friend"

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