Sin Wagon

{{Infobox song

| name = Sin Wagon

| cover =

| alt =

| type =

| artist = Dixie Chicks

| album = Fly

| released = August 31, 1999

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

  • Country
  • bluegrass{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/fly-mw0000048383 |title=Fly - Dixie Chicks : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=1999-08-31 |accessdate=2012-10-14}}

| length = 3:37

| label = Monument

| writer =

| producer =

}}

File:DixieChicksMSG062003.jpg

"Sin Wagon" is a song written by Natalie Maines, Emily Erwin, and Stephony Smith and recorded by The Chicks for their 1999 album Fly. Though never released as a single, it charted as an album cut. It has been featured in five tours: Fly, Top of the World, Accidents & Accusations, Eagles with Dixie Chicks and the DCX MMXVI World Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/dixie-chicks-bd6b172.html |title=Dixie Chicks Concert Setlists |publisher=setlist.fm |date= |accessdate=2012-10-14}}

History

The song's title was conceived by Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines. It is a reference to a scene in Grease; after Danny tries to make a move on Sandy at the drive-in, and she furiously calls his car a "sin wagon".{{cite web|url=http://chickoholic.tripod.com/DixieChicks/id120.html |title=Dixie Chicks FLY Interview Disc |publisher=Chickoholic.tripod.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-14}}

"Sin Wagon" was written "really quickly". The song's message is that "even the most good girl just has that wild side and you got to let it out occasionally," a contrast to country music's "stay-at-home" stereotype.{{cite book|last=Carlin|first=Richard|title=Country music : a biographical dictionary|year=2003|publisher=Routledge|location=New York [u.a.]|isbn=0415938023}}

It was released as a downloadable song in the Rock Band series.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockband.com/songs/sinwagon |title=Sin Wagon by Dixie Chicks // Songs // Rock Band |publisher=Rockband.com |date=2007-11-20 |access-date=2012-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210214110/http://www.rockband.com/songs/sinwagon |archive-date=2009-02-10 |url-status=dead }}

Controversy

According to Maines, Monument Records was "scared to death" about the song's reference to "mattress dancing", and refrained from discussing the subject publicly.{{cite web|last=Willman |first=Chris |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/09/23/dixie-chicks-burn-billboard-pop-charts/ |title=Girls' Power |publisher=EW.com |date=1999-09-23 |access-date=2012-10-14}}

In 2000, the family of Albert E. Brumley filed a $500,000 lawsuit against Sony over the song's sampling of the gospel hymn "I'll Fly Away".{{cite web|author=Christina Saraceno |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/dixie-chicks-named-in-copyright-infringement-case-20001221#ixzz293eTCSj4 |title=Dixie Chicks Named in Copyright Infringement Case | Music News |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2000-12-21 |accessdate=2012-10-14}} The Dixie Chicks have made no comment on the case.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1475413/chicks-in-court.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119172109/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1475413/chicks-in-court.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |title=News : Chicks in Court |publisher=CMT |date=2000-12-22 |accessdate=2012-10-14}}

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave "Sin Wagon" a positive review, calling it "rip-roaring" and "wickedly clever".

Chart performance

Although the song was not an official single, it received sufficient airplay to chart as high as number 52 on Hot Country Songs over a 20-week run.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|date=2008|page=127|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}} It was one of four songs charted by the Dixie Chicks on the chart dated for September 11, 1999, the others being "Cowboy Take Me Away", "Without You", and "Goodbye Earl", all three of which were eventually released as singles in 2000.

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1999)

!Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|52|artist=Dixie Chicks|artistid=28586}}

Cover versions and parodies

  • "Sin Wagon" has been performed on American Idol by contestant Amy Adams{{cite web|url=http://www.americanidol.com/archive/contestants/season3/amy_adams/ |title=Amy Adams |publisher=American Idol |date= |accessdate=2012-10-14}} and country singer Carrie Underwood.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanidol.com/archive/contestants/season4/carrie_underwood/ |title=Carrie Underwood |publisher=American Idol |date= |accessdate=2012-10-14}} On season 3 of The Voice, 2Steel Girls and Gracia Harrison performed the song as part of the Battle Rounds.
  • American country music parody artist Cledus T. Judd released a parody of "Sin Wagon" on his album Just Another Day in Parodies, titled "Wife Naggin'".

References