Lubbock Or Leave It

Album: Taking The Long Way (2006)
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  • Dust bowl, Bible belt
    Got more churches than trees
    Raise me, praise me, couldn't save me
    Couldn't keep me on my knees
    Oh, boy, rave on down loop two-eighty-nine
    That'll be the day you see me back in this fool's paradise

    Temptation's strong (salvation's gone)
    I'm on my way
    To hell's half-acre
    How will I ever
    How will I ever
    Get to heaven now?

    Throwing stones from the top of your rock
    Thinking no one can see
    The secrets you hide behind
    Your southern hospitality
    On the strip, the kids get lit
    So they can have a real good time
    Come Sunday they can just take their pick
    From the crucifix skyline

    Temptation's strong (salvation's gone)
    I'm on my way
    To hell's half-acre
    How will I ever
    How will I ever
    Get to heaven now
    Get to heaven now?

    International airport
    A quarter after nine
    Paris, Texas, Athens, Georgia's
    Not what I had in mind
    As I'm getting out I laugh to myself
    'Cause this is the only place
    Where as you're getting on the plane
    You see Buddy Holly's face

    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

    Temptation's strong (salvation's gone)
    I'm on my way
    To hell's half-acre
    How will I ever
    How will I ever
    Get to heaven now
    Get to heaven now?
    How will I ever

    Get to heaven now? Writer/s: EMILY ROBISON, MARTHA MAGUIRE, MIKE CAMPBELL, NATALIE MAINES
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • E.d. from LubbockAs a lifelong citizen of Lubbock (in my 50s), I have to say that this song resonates with me. The town has strong values in terms of loyalty and patriotism, but at the same time it expects you to conform and is very judgmental. If you toe the party line, you’ll do great. Otherwise . . .
  • Jonathan from Milwaukee, WiMaines says she feels bad for her family that has to defend her. Bull! She loved this controversy, stoking the flames while playing the victim.
  • Ika from Tucson, AzCall it a hunch but being from Lubbock myself, my guess is Natalie probably felt that way about the city all along and just never let it come out until after 'Europe-gate'. (You'd have to ask her to know for sure). Any 'artistic type' is going to feel a little outside things in a conservative Bible belt town. The subsequent backlash probably served as a reminder of how small a small city can be - that you're free to say what you want - as long as its congruent with public opinion. Free speech is not free either way. Her mistake wasn't in what she said but more about WHERE she said it. Making the Bush comments on foreign ground made her look like a traitor. Fact is, a lot of folks concurred but couldn't say so because THEY didn't want the backlash.
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxFunny how Lubbock only looked bad to them after the backlash they got for shooting their mouths off in Europe. Free speech runs both ways, chickies.
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