The trio is currently ranked as the highest-selling female musical group in the USA, according to RIAA Gold & Platinum album certifications. As of 2012, The Chicks had won 13 Grammy Awards. While The Chicks continues, Maguire and Robison are writing and recording as Court Yard Hounds as of Feb 2010. The Dixie Chicks renamed the band in 2020 to The Chicks dropping Dixie from the official name as the name had the word 'Dixie' referencing the American MasonโDixon line, which separated the free and slave-owning southern states.
Robin Lynn Macy was an original bandmember, as was Laura Lynch. Macy left the group in 1992, while Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines in 1995.
The group aroused considerable controversy for publicly denouncing President George W. Bush and the imminent invasion of Iraq during the European leg of their Top of the World tour supporting Home. Many country music stations immediately pulled their music from the air, and the band received criticism from many corners of the media.
Goodbye Earl {Country Dance Mix}
Dixie Chicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All through their high school days
Both members of the 4H club, both active in the FFA
After graduation
Mary Anne went out lookin' for a bright new world
Wanda looked all around this town and all she found was Earl
Well, it wasn't two weeks after she got married that
She'd put on dark glasses or long sleeved blouses
Or make-up to cover a bruise
Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce
And she let the law take it from there
But Earl walked right through that restraining order
And put her in intensive care
Right away Mary Anne flew in from Atlanta
On a red eye midnight flight
She held Wanda's hand as they worked out a plan
And it didn't take 'em long to decide
That Earl had to die, goodbye Earl
Those black-eyed peas, they tasted alright to me, Earl
You're feelin' weak? Why don't you lay down and sleep, Earl
Ain't it dark wrapped up in that tarp, Earl
The cops came by to bring Earl in
They searched the house high and low
Then they tipped their hats and said, thank you ladies
If you hear from him let us know
Well, the weeks went by and spring turned to summer
And summer faded into fall
And it turns out he was a missing person who nobody missed at all
So the girls bought some land and a roadside stand
Out on highway 109
They sell Tennessee ham and strawberry jam
And they don't lose any sleep at night, 'cause
Earl had to die, goodbye Earl
We need a break, let's go out to the lake, Earl
We'll pack a lunch, and stuff you in the trunk, Earl
Is that alright? Good! Let's go for a ride, Earl, hey!
Ooh hey hey hey, ummm hey hey hey, hey hey hey
"Goodbye Earl" by Dixie Chicks is a darkly funny story about two best friends, Mary Anne and Wanda, who plot to kill Wanda's abusive ex-husband, Earl. The song tells their story in a conversational, light-hearted tone and has become one of the Dixie Chicks' signature songs.
The song starts by introducing the two friends as high school buddies who, immediately following graduation, go in opposite directions. Mary Anne heads off into the world to explore, while Wanda stays behind, eventually marrying Earl. The plot turns darker as it's revealed that Earl has been abusing Wanda, leading her to finally get a restraining order against him. Unfortunately, Earl ignores the order and beats Wanda almost to death. In response, Mary Anne flies in and together they decide Earl needs to die.
The song's chorus joyfully celebrates Earl's demise with lines like "Goodbye Earl," and "Those black-eyed peas, they tasted alright to me, Earl." The lyrics never veer into remorse or questioning the morality of their actions. Instead, it plays like a dark comedy, ending with the catchy refrain: "Ooh hey hey hey, ummm hey hey hey, hey hey hey."
Line by Line Meaning
Mary Anne and Wanda were the best of friends
Mary Anne and Wanda were great friend throughout their time in high school
All through their high school days
Their friendship lasted throughout high school
Both members of the 4H club, both active in the FFA
Both Mary Anne and Wanda were members of 4H club and active in the FFA
After graduation
After completing their high school education
Mary Anne went out lookin' for a bright new world
Mary Anne went out in search of a new life and new opportunities
Wanda looked all around this town and all she found was Earl
Wanda remained close by and ended up with Earl as her spouse
Well, it wasn't two weeks after she got married that Wanda started gettin' abused
Shortly after getting married, Wanda started experiencing physical abuse from Earl
She'd put on dark glasses or long sleeved blouses Or make-up to cover a bruise
To hide the evidence of her abuse, she wore dark glasses, long-sleeved blouses, or makeup to cover up her bruises
Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce
She eventually gathered the courage to file for a divorce
And she let the law take it from there
She allowed legal procedures to take their course
But Earl walked right through that restraining order And put her in intensive care
Earl went beyond the restraining order and put Wanda in a hospital intensive care unit
Right away Mary Anne flew in from Atlanta On a red eye midnight flight She held Wanda's hand as they worked out a plan And it didn't take 'em long to decide
Mary Anne came from Atlanta and they both worked together to come up with a plan to solve their problem
That Earl had to die, goodbye Earl
The plan was to kill Earl
Those black-eyed peas, they tasted alright to me, Earl You're feelin' weak? Why don't you lay down and sleep, Earl Ain't it dark wrapped up in that tarp, Earl
They lured Earl by suggesting he had a meal to eat, made him feel weak, and then suffocated him in a tarp
The cops came by to bring Earl in They searched the house high and low Then they tipped their hats and said, thank you ladies If you hear from him let us know
The police arrived to investigate Earl's whereabouts, but Mary Anne and Wanda acted ignorant of his whereabouts
Well, the weeks went by and spring turned to summer And summer faded into fall And it turns out he was a missing person who nobody missed at all
Apparently, Earl was not missed by anyone since he was not in anybody's radar
So the girls bought some land and a roadside stand Out on highway 109 They sell Tennessee ham and strawberry jam And they don't lose any sleep at night, 'cause
The two ladies ended up starting a business after the incident and they are still able to sleep well at night
Earl had to die, goodbye Earl We need a break, let's go out to the lake, Earl We'll pack a lunch, and stuff you in the trunk, Earl Is that alright? Good! Let's go for a ride, Earl, hey! Ooh hey hey hey, ummm hey hey hey, hey hey hey
The chorus repeats the scenario that led to the couple's revenge
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DENNIS LINDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RFP15
โAinโt it dark wrapped up in that tarpโ is just a purely savage line.
@b.k.r.doggielover5449
Awesome!๐
@ZoeyPaigeLunaPhD
My favorite is โWeโll pack a lunch!โ
The look on Natalies face always brings the lols
@katherineberger6329
Dennis Franz in zombie makeup is one of the most hilarious parts of the video.
@autumnbritten2280
The entire song is fucking amazing. โWeโll pack a lunch, and stuff you in the trunkโ lyrical genius. Lol
@tanyawade5197
The fact this song was written by a man is even better๐.
@rubymeaddle7532
"Women killing their abusers" is my favorite genre
@tylercarta433
Then you might like the movie "Dolores Claiborne."
@TheOlioster
it's a victimless crime
@cacola_3373
You may like the death penalty too