Rebecca Carlene Smith (b. September 26, 1955 and professionally known as Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Rebecca Carlene Smith (b. September 26, 1955 and professionally known as Carlene Carter) is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter (later known as June Carter Cash) and her first husband, Carl Smith. From 1979-1990 she was married to English singer-songwriter, musician and producer Nick Lowe.

Though her recording career had begun in the late 1970s with her eponymous debut album, it was with 1990's I Fell in Love that Carter's career really took off, with the album and title song topping the US country albums and singles charts, respectively. The album, which featured straight-ahead, retro-sounding country (her prior work had combined country, rock and roll and pop sounds), was among the first successes of the 1990s "neotraditionalist" movement in country. 1993's Little Love Letters featured the hit "Every Little Thing", which was accompanied by one of the top-rated music videos of the year.

Carter's winning stream ended with 1995's Little Acts of Treason, which, while critically well received, failed to achieve the commercial success of the Carter's two previous releases.

She also found limited amounts of fame with the song "It takes one to know me", which was released on the albums "Johnny Cash the Legend" and "Johnny and June duets". Originally recorded in 1977 with a full string backing group, it was lost in a tape collection in Hendersonville and uncovered in 2003. It was then remastered by her brother John Carter Cash. In the remastered version, John added his and his wife Laura's backing vocals and a guest appearance from Carlene herself - more than 35 years after she wrote and recorded the song.

She was played by Victoria Hester in the movie Walk the Line.

The track 'Every Little Thing' is also featured in the pinball machine 'Red and Ted's Road Show' released by Williams Electronic Games in 1994. Carter also does the voice of one of the main characters in the pinball game

Goodnight Dallas
Carlene Carter Lyrics

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I've tasted the good and the bad
And too much of what I ain't had
I been up and down
And all around this old town
But nothing's felt better than my feet on the ground
On the road that leads out of town

[Chorus:]

So goodnight Dallas
Gonna shoot out the lights in that ole silver palace
I'll drink your wine
One last time
Come morning I'll be gone
Goodnight Dallas
Ah lee o lay e a lee a o

I've lived my life at its best
And too much of all of the rest
I could love you and leave you
But never no never deceive you
So maybe it's better when I leave
I leave with no lies
Than leave with no truth

[Chorus x 2]

Goodnight Dallas

Ah lee o lay e a lee a o
[Repeat x 3]

Overall Meaning

In Carlene Carter's song "Goodnight Dallas," the singer reflects on her experiences in the city of Dallas. She acknowledges that she has experienced both good and bad things in her life and has not had enough of what she wants. She has been all over the city, but what feels the best is leaving it behind. In the chorus, she bids farewell to Dallas and promises to make the most of her last night in the city by drinking its wine and shooting out the lights in the silver palace. She acknowledges that she has lived her life to the best of her abilities, though not always making the right choices. She is honest and upfront about leaving the city, knowing that it's better than staying behind and lying about her reasons for leaving.

The song reflects on the idea of leaving behind a place that's been a part of oneself but is no longer fitting. It is about growing and knowing when it's time to move on, even when it isn't easy. The lyrics "On the road that leads out of town" indicate that the singer is ready to move on and face a new future, leaving the past behind. The song's message is about being truthful, even if it means hurting someone, as long as it's done in a right way.

Line by Line Meaning