Released August 31, 1999 Length 3:37 | Genre Country, bluegrass Label Monument | |
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Writer(s) Natalie Maines, Emily Erwin, Stephony Smith Producer(s) Blake Chancey, Paul Worley | ||
"Sin Wagon" is a song written by Natalie Maines, Emily Erwin, and Stephony Smith and recorded by the Dixie Chicks for their 1999 album Fly. Though never released as a single, it charted as an album cut and is one of the band's most popular songs to date. It has been featured in five tours: Fly, Top of the World, Accidents & Accusations, Eagles with Dixie Chicks and the DCX MMXVI World Tour.
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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 makes a move on Sandy at the drive-in, she furiously calls his car a "sin wagon".
"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.
It was released as a downloadable song in the Rock Band series.
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.
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". The Dixie Chicks have made no comment on the case.
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. It was one of four songs charted by the Dixie Chicks on the chart dated for September 11, 1999, the other three being "Cowboy Take Me Away", "Without You", and "Goodbye Earl", the latter two of which were eventually released as singles in 2000.
Cover versions and parodies
"Sin Wagon" has been performed on American Idol by Amy Adams and Carrie Underwood. On season 3 of The Voice, 2Steel Girls and Gracia Harrison performed the song as part of the Battle Rounds.