The songs' productions also featured steel guitars and cellos. Cook's vocals received comparisons with those of Loretta Lynn, Deana Carter, Kelly Willis, and Dolly Parton. Some critics noted a twangy quality in her voice, like Paterson's description of the singer having "twangy, sexy soprano" vocals. Robert L. Doerschuk described Cook's voice as having a "nasal intonation and Southern lilt", and Langston noted that Cook sounded "high, slightly pinched". In an article for "The Tennessean", Craig Havighurst characterized Cook as singing with a "willowy, wiry drawl". When describing her tone, Newman believed Cook seemed "often plaintive" throughout the album. According to a "Billboard" writer, the album's lyrics revolve around Cook's experiences living "the hard-knock life". A commentator for the "National Post" said "Hey Y'all" was composed of "sexually charged honky tonkers" and "coon classic weepers". When discussing "Hey Y'all"'s first set of songs, Newman wrote that "the twang factor goes to 11". The opening track is "Stupid Things", which Doerschuk said has a "barn-dance hook". Larry Aydlette, writing for "The Palm Beach Post", remarked that "Stupid Things", as well as "Demon", had more "modern sensibilities" than the album's more traditional songs. The second track "Rainbows at Midnight" is about a break-up. The third song, "Mama You Wanted to Be a Singer Too", is a ballad about Cook's mother who dreamed of becoming a country singer. Using lyrics referring to Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn, Cook sings that she succeeded while her mother had five children with a man who abandoned her. For the fourth track "Dolly", Cook asks Dolly Parton questions about the music industry, specifically how to handle "hound-dog men and pushy record companies". The song has an acoustic melody with lyrics like: "Now I know some girls that sing and look good / But don't have a whole lot under the hood / Dolly, did you go through this?" In the "National Post", reviewer likened the arrangement for Cook's cover of "I'm Not Lisa" to Roy Orbison's music. The sixth song "Everyday Sunshine" has influences from pop music. For "Demon", Cook sings about sensual desire over a blues instrumental.