Top 10 Songs by the Dixie Chicks

The Dixie Chicks went from country radio darlings to pariahs with a simple quote by lead singer Natalie Maines at a concert in London in 2003, "We're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas." After that statement many in country music circles shunned them, for little more than expressing an opinion already held by many. Although they lost a large part of their fan base the Chicks have gained a whole new one as well.

The group has released seven CDs, but only four with Maines. The group's top ten songs come from these last four albums, there is a reason the group never hit is big before Maines joined sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robinson. So here are the top ten songs by the Dixie Chicks, see if you agree.

10. Heartbreak Town: Track number 12 from the album Fly tells the story of a couple that doesn't quite fit in with there new hometown. The song is easy to relate to, because we all feel at one time or another that we don't exactly fit in.

9. Cold Day in July: This song, also off the Fly album, is about a popular song subject, broken promises. It's a simple country song about the moment a break up is complete. Everyone else seems to be happy except for the person left behind.

8. I Hope: The last track from the Taking the Long Way CD, I Hope is a song about ideals, "I hope for more love, more joy and laughter," who can disagree with those thoughts. The song was released as a digital download in 2005 with proceeds going to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

7. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams): Off the Home CD, Godspeed is a song written by veteran songwriter Radney Foster about a parent missing their child and how life sometimes gets in the way of us spending time with the ones we love the most. They kept the song simple, with just an acoustic guitar, a violin, a little steel guitar, and limited percussion, and it works beautifully.

6. You Were Mine: From the Chicks breakthrough CD, Wide Open Spaces, You Were Mine, is a haunting ballad of a love that has died, but one person can't move on. Written by the sisters Martie and Emily about their parents divorce, the song has a very personal tone, that makes it all the more appealing.

5. Bitter End: This track is from the Taking the Long Way CD and remembers those from whom we may have grown apart . The song to me is about those that we aren't really connected with anymore, things didn't go bad they just ended. So let's raise a glass for one last drink and all move on, taking our memories with us.

4. Without You: Another ballad, this one from the Fly CD, about love gone bad. I like the way the song builds as it goes along, especially at the bridge and beyond, to me it says that she is closer to moving on with life, though it may be hard.

3. Travelin' Soldier: The story of young love torn apart by war, Travelin' Soldier is off the Home CD. The song is a sad tale of a soldier that everyone has forgotten, except for one girl that fell in love with him just before he left. With the group's signature beautiful harmonies ans the instrumental ending of the song fits the song perfectly.

2. Top of the World: The story of a man that has passed on and the regrets he has, Top of the World, is off the CD Home. The man in the song is cold and distant, but can't understand why he was that way. After his death he realizes the negative impact he has had on the people in his family, "I think I broke the wings off that little song bird she's never gonna fly to the top of the world."

1. Not Ready to Make Nice: Their anthem, off the Taking the Long Way CD, is a great rebuttal to the backlash they faced from their President Bush comment. It was the best way to tell country radio and its seedy fringe element that made allegedly made death threats against the group to stuff it up their nose. I love the fact that they were done with apologies, because they weren't necessary.

There is my top ten list. If you disagree with my choices please leave your choices in the comment section, they are always welcome.