Preliminary Information
“Lubbock or Leave It,” the controversial country rock song, was released on April 7, 2006 (“Lubbock or Leave It”). It is the seventh track on the band’s fourth album Taking the Long Way, which happened to be the last album for which they still referred to themselves as Dixie Chicks. Natalie Maines, the lead singer, and sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire wrote the piece with Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Biographical information and context are crucial to understanding the complexity of this song. Maines hails from Lubbock, Texas, a city in the northwest region of the state. The piece was created as a direct response to Maines’ hometown after its involvement in shunning the group following her anti-Iraq war sentiments that she expressed in their 2003 UK performance (Hight; Watson 49).
Texan-ness from the compositional perspective
Although Maines came from Lubbock, Strayer and Maguire started Dixie Chicks in their hometown of Dallas, Texas. The song appears to showcase some rock influence, which many may initially assume is attributable to their co-author Campbell. Although we may not immediately think about rock music when we hear “Texas,” this genre has a strong connection to the state—as this was where the sound was born. Rock music draws influence from the blues, jazz, and western swing genres, and Jasinski states that many Texans played key roles in developing these sounds. One of the most influential (and relevant) individuals is Buddy Holly, who is discussed later on in this post.
Despite the inherent rock influence, the country sound is at the forefront of this piece. According to Hight, the band “pre-fame” played music that reflected the western country genre of bluegrass. The Chicks do not shy away from their roots, as the jazz/blues influence, main vocals and harmony, and unique instrumentation that categorizes the genre is evident in this piece (“Bluegrass”). Regarding instrumentation, Maguire plays the mandolin, Strayer plays the electric and acoustic guitars and banjo, and the credits also indicate that a bass is present—these are four key instruments that make up the traditional bluegrass sound (“Traditional Bluegrass Instruments”). Maines’ early life experiences also contribute to her country sound. Hight notes that the vocal techniques Maines’ employs are “distinctly country.” Watson (50) goes even further, suggesting that her upbringing in Lubbock plays a significant role in her artistry, and this is evident in “Lubbock or Leave It.”
Lubbock: The Faith, The Irony, The Sarcasm
The title “Lubbock or leave it” is a play on the pre-existing phrase “love it or leave it,” meaning that if you don’t like the American (or, in this case, Lubbock) lifestyle, then you can leave (Watson 55). The title alone hints at the patriotic nature of the town, a characteristic that is prevalent throughout the state. Watson notes that conservatism and religion have been powerful forces in Lubbock since its conception. This knowledge provides a better understanding of the lyrics, which appear to take a more sarcastic and critical approach.
The lyrics provide descriptors of the town, with Maines calling it a “Dust bowl, bible belt” that “got more churches than trees”—these opening lines immediately paint the picture of the overly religious nature of the region. In this same verse, we learn about the landmark location “loop 289” which, according to Watson, is a highway that surrounds Lubbock (55).
However, one of the main attributes of this song are the numerous references to the rock pioneer, Buddy Holly. Verse one begins this introduction with The Chicks singing
“Oh Boy”
“Rave On” down Loop 289
“That’ll Be the Day” you see me back in this “Fool’s Paradise.”
Genius
The words that are italicized and in quotation marks are all song titles from the late musician (Watson). In the third verse, the lead singer tries to compare herself to the Lubbock legend. When talking about the “international airport,” Maines notes how she “laugh[s] to [herself]” because Buddy Holly’s face can be seen when boarding the plane. In this line, The Chicks appear to point out the irony of the situation, as Buddy Holly tragically died in a plane crash. The verse continues with the lines
I hear they hate me now
Just like they hated you
Maybe when I’m dead and gone
I’m gonna get a statue too
Genius
These bold lines explicitly highlight the hypocrisy of Lubbock as, according to Maines’, the city proudly showcases an artist for which they had no initial respect for.
Finally, the chorus states
Temptation’s strong
(Salvation’s gone)
I’m on my way
To hell’s half acre
How will I ever (2x)
Get to Heaven now
Genius
These tongue-in-cheek lines once again jab at Texan’s religious fanaticism.
Concluding Remarks
“Lubbock or Leave It” is a multifaceted peace that has a lot to say about Texas. The song draws from the inherently Texan sounds of rock-and-roll and bluegrass—whether it be through instrumentation or vocalization. However, the lyrics go against the Texan mythos and, more specifically, how the citizens of Lubbock view themselves and their hometown. Rather than praising the state, The Chicks took a more critical approach (and were met with backlash for doing so). I guess one could say that they chose to Leave It.
Works Cited
“Bluegrass”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/art/bluegrass-music. Accessed 29 January 2023
“The Chicks – Lubbock or Leave It.” Genius, 2023, genius.com/The-chicks-lubbock-or-leave-it-lyrics. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.
Hight, Jewly. “The Unprecedented History of the Chicks.” Vulture, 17 July 2020, www.vulture.com/2020/07/the-chicks-career-history-timeline.html. Accessed 26 Jan. 2023.
Jasinski, Laurie E. “Rock-and-Roll.” Texas State Historical Association, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/rock-and-roll. Accessed 1 Feb. 2023.
“Lubbock or Leave It.” Youtube, uploaded by The Chicks, 8 November 2014, youtube.com/watch?v=z6DFBiU-3
“Traditional Bluegrass Instruments | Kentucky Studies.” PBS LearningMedia, KET, 2021, cptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/traditional-bluegrass-instruments-video/kentucky-studies/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.
Watson, Jada. “The Dixie Chicks’ “Lubbock or Leave It”: Negotiating Identity and Place in Country Song.” Journal of the Society for American Music, vol. 8, no. 1, 2014, pp. 49-75, doi: 10.1017/S1752196313000606
