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 Mason–Dixon 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.
Heartbreak Town
Dixie Chicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kissed your mama goodbye
Baby in your arms and a tear in your eye
Twelve hundred miles and you never asked why
From me
Me and the baby and you side by side
We all knew we was in for a long hard ride
We honked the horn when we crossed the
State line
Woke up the baby and she started to cry
She must've known
What we were going to find
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Square people in a world that's round
And they watch you dancin' without the sound
It ain't nothin' no nothin'
You take your number and you stand in line
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
Pat on the back and better luck next time
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Stardust well it's a funny thing
It can make you cuss
It can make you sing
And the need to touch it gets hard to explain some days
I've seen 'em rise
I've seen 'em fall
Some get nothin'
And lord some get it all
Some just run
While others crawled away
Hold my hand baby don't let go
I've got some front money
And I've got a next show
And I'm, I'm gonna need you
Down this yellow brick road
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Square people in a world that's round
And they watch you dancin' without a sound
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin' no
You take your number and you stand in line
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
Pat on the back 'n' better luck next time
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin'
But a heartbreak town
Town
Heartbreak town
The lyrics to Dixie Chicks’ “Heartbreak Town” tell a story about a mother and father setting out on a long and arduous journey with their baby in tow, leaving behind everything they have known for a new life in pursuit of stardom. The song opens with the mother hugging her friends and saying goodbye to her mother, with a tear in her eye, as they set out on a twelve hundred mile journey towards a new town. They honk the horn when they cross the state line, but despite their efforts to be happy and confident, the baby begins to cry, sensing the uncertainty and danger that lies ahead.
The song is about making it in the music industry, with the repeated refrain of “this ain’t nothin' but a heartbreak town”. The heartbreak town is a metaphor for Nashville, a place where would-be musicians go to try to make it big, but where many end up disillusioned and disappointed. The town is full of “square people in a world that’s round,” meaning that the inhabitants of the town are all trying to fit into a mold that is no longer relevant in the changing world. The people are watching the musicians dance without sound, meaning that they are there, but they are not really heard or valued. The musicians take their number and stand in line, trying to climb to success, but most of them will receive only a pat on the back and a wish for better luck next time.
Overall, “Heartbreak Town” is a poignant and powerful song about the struggle to make it in a competitive and often heartless industry. It is a song about the dreams of youth and the sacrifices that one must make to pursue them, and about the harsh realities of the world that can sometimes break even the most determined hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Hugged your friends
You embraced your friends, knowing that you may not see them for a while.
Kissed your mama goodbye
You said goodbye to your mother, knowing that you will miss her.
Baby in your arms and a tear in your eye
You held your baby close while shedding a tear, knowing that you are embarking on a difficult journey.
Twelve hundred miles and you never asked why
You traveled a long distance without questioning your decision to do so.
From me
The artist is addressing the person who left and took the journey.
Me and the baby and you side by side
The singer and their baby joined the person on the journey.
We all knew we was in for a long hard ride
Everyone involved understood the difficult journey ahead of them.
Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide it seemed
The journey was unavoidable and there was no escape from the hardship it entailed.
We honked the horn when we crossed the state line
They celebrated when they crossed the state line, leaving their troubles behind.
Woke up the baby and she started to cry
The baby sensed the difficulties of the journey and became upset.
She must've known what we were going to find
The baby seemed to have a premonition about the challenges that lay ahead.
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
The place they arrived at was a difficult town where hearts were often broken.
Square people in a world that's round
The people in the town were rigidly conventional, in contrast to the wider world.
And they watch you dancin' without the sound
The people in the town observe you struggling, without offering help or sympathy.
You take your number and you stand in line
You join a queue, waiting your turn for your chance to succeed.
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
The people in the town are curious to see how successful you will be.
Pat on the back and better luck next time
If you fail, the people in the town may offer you some perfunctory consolation and wish you luck the next time.
Stardust well it's a funny thing
Success is a strange and elusive phenomenon.
It can make you cuss
Success can make you swear, perhaps out of disbelief or excitement.
It can make you sing
Success can be a cause for celebration or joy.
And the need to touch it gets hard to explain some days
The desire for success can be difficult to articulate or understand on some days.
I've seen 'em rise
The artist has seen people succeed.
I've seen 'em fall
The singer has also seen people fail.
Some get nothin' and lord some get it all
Some people succeed beyond their wildest dreams, while others never see success no matter how hard they try.
Some just run while others crawled away
Some people give up easily, while others persist no matter what setbacks they face.
Hold my hand baby don't let go
The singer reaches out for comfort and support from their loved one.
I've got some front money and I've got a next show
The singer has some initial funds and another performance lined up, which they hope will lead to success.
And I'm, I'm gonna need you down this yellow brick road
The artist feels that their loved one's companionship will be essential to achieving success.
Town
The artist ends the song by repeating the word 'town', emphasizing the difficult place that they've found themselves in.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DARRELL SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Williamson
Hugged your friends
Kissed your mama goodbye
Baby in your arms and a tear in your eye
Twelve hundred miles and you never asked why
From me
Me and the baby and you side by side
We all knew we was in for a long hard ride
Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide it seemed
We honked the horn when we crossed the
State line
Woke up the baby and she started to cry
She must've known
What we were going to find
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Square people in a world that's round
And they watch you dancin' without the sound
It ain't nothin' no nothin'
You take your number and you stand in line
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
Pat on the back and better luck next time
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Stardust well it's a funny thing
It can make you cuss
It can make you sing
And the need to touch it gets hard to explain some days
I've seen 'em rise
I've seen 'em fall
Some get nothin'
And lord some get it all
Some just run
While others crawled away
Hold my hand baby don't let go
I've got some front money
And I've got a next show
And I'm, I'm gonna need you
Down this yellow brick road
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Square people in a world that's round
And they watch you dancin' without a sound
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin' no
You take your number and you stand in line
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
Pat on the back 'n' better luck next time
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin'
But a heartbreak town
Town
Heartbreak town
Devon Pease
I'm a Hip-Hop kid, through and through. But when this album dropped it was my Mom's favorite. And when she got her divorce, she drove us from Arizona to Florida. The U-Haul only had an AM/FM radio, so we had our portable CD Player radio behind the seat. And I just remember this whole album on repeat the whole way. She would sing this song from her soul, and look at my brother and I with tears in her eyes. And she honked the horn when we crossed the state line. You could just see the music sanctify her, and how it was so relevant to her situation. I'll just never forget it. She's the strongest person I know. Music is so important to me. It encapsulates nostalgia, and reminds me of a moment when my Mom had to be her strongest. And that gives me strength. It shows how lyrics can be all you need to see you through sometimes, ya know? I'll always love this song yo. I can't live without music. ALL music.
Aries love
same here bro - this album is beautiful
Sarah Blohm
I could never understand why this song didn’t get more love. Definitely one of my favourites.
MartinHCollection
This song is so deep in my heart! I love it!
Will Smith
One of my top 3 Chicks songs. Such a banger.
grwm SG
Lmao it is tho
SunflowerChild82
One of my favorite songs by The Chicks. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That’s American and why we live in a Democracy. Freedom of Speech. Sad they stopped making music because years ago what they said was an unpopular opinion. People today need to take note. Freedom of Speech is for ALL opinions, not just the ones you agree with. Censorship and “cancel culture” are un-American. Ya dig?
Jan Burrell
Still making music and mid an awesome tour, 2003
Yllorzs TV
beautiful song❤️
Joe Williamson
Hugged your friends
Kissed your mama goodbye
Baby in your arms and a tear in your eye
Twelve hundred miles and you never asked why
From me
Me and the baby and you side by side
We all knew we was in for a long hard ride
Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide it seemed
We honked the horn when we crossed the
State line
Woke up the baby and she started to cry
She must've known
What we were going to find
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Square people in a world that's round
And they watch you dancin' without the sound
It ain't nothin' no nothin'
You take your number and you stand in line
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
Pat on the back and better luck next time
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Stardust well it's a funny thing
It can make you cuss
It can make you sing
And the need to touch it gets hard to explain some days
I've seen 'em rise
I've seen 'em fall
Some get nothin'
And lord some get it all
Some just run
While others crawled away
Hold my hand baby don't let go
I've got some front money
And I've got a next show
And I'm, I'm gonna need you
Down this yellow brick road
This ain't nothin' but a heartbreak town
Square people in a world that's round
And they watch you dancin' without a sound
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin' no
You take your number and you stand in line
And they watch to see how high you're gonna climb
Pat on the back 'n' better luck next time
It ain't nothin' no it ain't nothin'
But a heartbreak town
Town
Heartbreak town