Major Project Unit: Finding Inspiration

It didn't take me long to decide what I wanted to do for this project. I listen to a lot of music and my collection is eclectic, from A1 to ZZ Top, one genre of music that always gets my foot tapping is Country and Western music. There is one girl-band on the "country" scene that I have been a fan of for some time, the Dixie Chicks. Like any good Country and Western song, the lyrics that they write create a story, and not the ones where the girl has seen the man of her dreams and they fall in love but events that happen to them from trying to leave work to finding ways to get over a man. One song that stands out to me is a song from their second album "Fly" released in 1999 called "Goodbye Earl" (see lyrics below). It's about two girls Mary Anne and Wanda, Mary Anne goes off to see the world whilst Wanda stays at home and gets married to Earl, except Earl beats her. When Wanda needs her friend the most Mary Anne returns to save her and kill Earl. This song (to me) highlights woman's strength and loyalty, similar to that of Velma and Louise.                                                                  

                                                        "Goodbye Earl"

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 put on dark glasses and long sleeved blouses
And make-up to cover a bruise
Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce
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 Atalnta
On a red eye midnight flight
She held Wanda's hand as they
worked out a plan
And it didn't take long to decided

That Earl had to die
Goodbye Earl
Those black-eyed peas
They tasted all right to me Earl
You're feeling weak
Why don't you lay down
and sleep Earl
Ain't it dark
Wrapped up in that tarp Earl

The cops came 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 al all

So the girls bouth some land
and a roadside stand
Out on Highway 109
They sell Tennessee ham
and strawberry jame
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
Well is that all right
Good Let's go for a ride
Earl hey