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.
Wide Open Spaces
Dixie Chicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's never left home, whos never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone
Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes
She traveled this road as a child
Wideeyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test
She needs wide open spaces
Room to make a big mistake
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
As her folks drive away her dad yells, Check the oil!
Mom stares out the window and says,
I'm leaving my girl.
She said It didn't seem like that long ago
When she stood there and let her own folks know
She needed
Wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes,
She knows the highest stakes,
She knows the highest stakes
The Dixie Chicks' song "Wide Open Spaces" tells the story of a young girl leaving home to find her own path in life. The song expresses the universal desire for freedom and the need to take risks, make mistakes, and explore new places. The singer is in search of wide open spaces, both literal and metaphorical, where she can take on new challenges and discover who she truly is.
The song is a coming-of-age anthem that speaks to the dreams and aspirations of young people everywhere. It represents the idea of leaving behind the safety and comfort of home to pursue one's own destiny, no matter how daunting or uncertain it may seem. The lyrics capture the excitement and trepidation of embarking on a new adventure, as well as the nostalgia and sadness that come with leaving loved ones behind.
At its core, the song is about the power of personal transformation and the courage it takes to follow one's dreams. It encourages listeners to embrace their own journeys and to never give up on their pursuit of happiness and self-discovery. The Dixie Chicks' powerful vocals and stirring harmonies bring the lyrics to life, making "Wide Open Spaces" a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who can't relate to wanting to strike out and find your own dream
Who's never left home, whos never struck out
Who has never taken a risk and left their comfort zone to explore new opportunities
To find a dream and a life of their own
To search for a future that is independent and unique to oneself
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone
A place that is both lofty and grounded, representing one's hopes and values
Many precede and many will follow
Many have come before and many will come after, all seeking their own path
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
A young girl's dream is no longer just an empty fantasy, it has become a concrete goal
It takes the shape of a place out west
Her vision of the future is represented by the vastness and promise of the American West
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed
She is uncertain what the future holds, but she retains her hope and determination for something new and better
She needs wide open spaces
She craves freedom and vastness, both literally and figuratively
Room to make her big mistakes
She wants the latitude to learn from her own experiences, both good and bad
She needs new faces
She seeks the company of those who are different from what she knows or expects
She knows the highest stakes
She understands that by setting out on her own, she is taking a significant risk
She traveled this road as a child
She had previously embarked on this journey as a more naive and innocent version of herself
Wideeyed and grinning, she never tired
She had previously been eager and enthusiastic to explore the world, not yet jaded by the challenges she would face
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
She has decided to break away from the status quo, and her family will not be joining her
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test
She will view her upcoming challenges as opportunities to learn and grow
As her folks drive away her dad yells, Check the oil!
Her family is saying goodbye, but they are still focused on practical matters in the moment
Mom stares out the window and says,
Her mother is more contemplative and emotional in saying goodbye
I'm leaving my girl.
Her mother is acknowledging that their relationship will be different now that she is forging her own path
She said It didn't seem like that long ago
She is reflecting on her childhood and how quickly time has passed since then
When she stood there and let her own folks know
She remembers the moment when she shared with her family her plans to strike out on her own
She needed
She required something in her life that she felt was previously missing
Wide open spaces
A place that is unconstrained and free, where she can explore and find her own way
Room to make her big mistakes
The ability to make choices, even if they lead to setbacks or failures
She needs new faces
New people in her life who will challenge and inspire her
She knows the highest stakes
She is aware of the great risk she is taking, but she is still determined to see it through
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anthonyoram7614
Am I the only person that still Calls them the Dixie Chicks even though people think the word “Dixie” is racist. It just means Southern.
@stephenhobbs5883
I'll be honest I had no idea they changed it 😢
@hensen5309
I grew up in Oklahoma. I was born the year 2000. My school played this every morning. We had multiple songs we would sing when we got there in the morning. This was one of the songs.
@LawrenceMcLaughlan-jj4kz
1 of there best songs
@waynemasey545
That's a wonderful way to start the day magical Wayne in ecclefecan Scotland
@lyndseymendoza8113
Checking in June 2023
Such a timeless hit, thank you Dixie chicks!! ❤♾️
@Kevin-qo6qt
Yep!
@Kevin-qo6qt
8/23......
@peterdavis8471
The sixty chick's sounds great
@JD-72191
I liked it better when they were called the Dixie Chicks.