Goodbye Earl
Dixie Chicks
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Mary Anne and Wanda were the best of friends 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 Wanda started gettin' abused 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
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Written by: DENNIS LINDE
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Release"Goodbye Earl" was released by the Dixie Chicks as part of their fifth studio album "Fly" in 1999.
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SongwritersThe song was written by Dennis Linde, who had also written hits for Elvis Presley and other country stars.
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Controversial LyricsThe song's story of two women killing an abusive husband stirred considerable controversy. Some radio stations refused to play it due to its violent theme.
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Music Video FameThe music video for "Goodbye Earl," which starred actress Jane Krakowski, received considerable attention and won the CMT Music Video of the Year in 2000.
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Name ChangeFollowing the controversial political comments made by the band's lead vocalist Natalie Maines in 2003, some stations banned the Dixie Chicks' music altogether, often replacing "Goodbye Earl" with the song "The Earl Had to Die" by other artists.
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Billboard RankingDespite its controversial themes, the song was very successful and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks.
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Impact on Pop CultureThe song has had a lasting impact on popular culture and has been featured in several TV shows and films, including an episode of "The Office" and the film "Tammy."
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Feminist AnthemThe song is sometimes viewed as a feminist anthem because it tells the story of two women who take drastic measures to stop the abuse in their lives.
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Parody VersionsDue to its catchy tune and stark storyline, it has inspired numerous parody versions across different music genres.
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ProducerThe song was produced by Blake Chancey and Paul Worley, who also worked on several of the Dixie Chicks' other hit songs.
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Citation
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"Goodbye Earl Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3031554/Dixie+Chicks/Goodbye+Earl>.
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