Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting

I'm through with doubt
There's nothing left for me to figure out
I've paid a price, and I'll keep paying

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell, and I don't have time
To go 'round and 'round and 'round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I know you said
Can't you just get over it?
It turned my whole world around
And I kinda like it

I made my bed, and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets, and I don't mind saying
It's a sad, sad story
When a mother will teach her daughter
That she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better
Shut up and sing
Or my life will be over?

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell, and I don't have time
To go 'round and 'round and 'round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell, and I don't have time
To go 'round and 'round and 'round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should, what it is you think I should
What it is you think I should

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting


Lyrics submitted by kimmygirl21

Not Ready To Make Nice Lyrics as written by Natalie Maines Martha Maguire

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Not Ready To Make Nice song meanings
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134 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    I'm really glad to see that the Dixie Chicks are saying "I made my bed and I sleep like a baby with no regrets" It's really awesome to see that these women have not given in to the bullying. I watched them do an interview on 60 minutes and although they got to say a lot of intelligent things and state their opinion rationally, i couldn't help but notice the attitude of the interviewer, who repeatedly asked the girls shit like "why did you release this song, why didn't you just be quiet for the fans" and "don't you ever just want to tell natalie to shut up". cause.... 'god' forbid a woman should voice her opinion!

    I think it's awesome that they're standing by their opinion and are probably ignoring a lot of people who try to bully them into "being quiet" like women should be.

    I don't understand the whole "do it for the fans" or "it's a bad career move" rationale so much. Musicians do NOT have to appease their fans if their fans are so narrow-minded that they are unable HANDLE an opinion that does not match their own. The fact that they recieved a death threat is especially concerning. the whole "CONFORM OR DIE" thing is a tad bit insane. These attitudes continue to baffle me.

    sanscosmon May 15, 2006   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Hooray for the Dixie Chicks for speaking their mind! Bush is evil, and everyone needs to know that. I hope all Bush supporters hear this song and know exactly what it's about.

    Noa08on April 09, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I am a strong Bush supporter, but I do like the Dixie Chicks and I felt for them when they went through so much just for speaking their minds. Though I don't agree with what they said, nobody deserves to get death threats. Our country is great because people like the Dixie Chicks can speak their minds. I love this song, because if I were in their shoes, I would be unable to get over what happened to them. I just wanted to post this to show that just because I like Bush and I am a Republican, it doesn't mean I think the death threats and name calling were justified.

    tootsie0945on May 04, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    the dixie chicks have a right to voice their opinions, it doesn't matter if people agree or disagree with what they said about Bush, the point is that they can can say what they did because this is a free country and we all have a right to free speech. and they do not have to support the president. patriotism isn't supporting and respecting the president it is supporting and respecting your country. (and to Laserlight10,) everyone has a right to make political statements, not just politicians. you don't need to go to harvard, or any other college, to speak your mind about politics either. the dixie chicks aren't stubborn, they are standing up for what they believe in.

    voiceinmusicon December 27, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    the best comeback ever is this song right here.

    I've been a fan of the chicks since they first came on the country radio and have stuck by them thru thick and thin. I'm happy to see them back, and I think this just shows that the chicks aren't going to back down and let ex fans and country radio walk all over them. And for that, you have to show them a lot of resepect. In their recent interview they basically said they are themselves, they are not going to try to conform to gain more fans. And judging by the number of sales the album is doing (and it's not even out yet) they are not doing so bad. They don't need to be played on the radio, they got their loyal fans and that's all they need. So all you haters...go buy a life.

    and i'm sorry but if someone gave me a death threat or damaged my property for a harmless statement I said about our president, I'd be pretty pissed off too.

    Heather200408on May 19, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I agree with you sanscosm. Heaven forbid that a woman should speak her mind! I truly believe that if a man would have said that, it wouldn't have caused such an uproar (hence all the bands that have come out against this travesty).

    Keep speaking your mind! If someone can't take it, well tough! I guess they aren't the one who later came out to say they relied on faulty intelligence, because they have some and used it at the time. No sense of jumping in the fire because your ignorant neighbors are doing it.

    Good song. And please, women, keep speaking your minds. I'm a man and it pisses me off when idiots call women names because they said something that someone didn't like. INGORANCE!!! "I guess they missunderestimated us"!!!

    Themactatoron May 22, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i never realized before what this song was about and now that i've read this it makes perfect sense..im not saying i agree with wat they said or if i agreee with bushes way of dealing wiht things....besides im canadian so either way its not really any of my buisness or concern at the moment...but its a great song and i think they needed to speak out...theres was no reason for them to be given deaeth threats for speaking their minds and giving their opinions...if its supposed to be such a so called free country then they should be left aone to voice their opinions...i think striking back through music was a brilliant idea and i very proud of the chicks

    Froggieson May 05, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I this song is profound sad. As law student learning about how the English, Australia and the US all have 'freedom of speech' - in Australia its an implied right into our Constitution - in the US although i am unsure, I know it is a right - possibly in your bill of rights. It is sad that although we are MEANT to have a right to freedom of speech and able to speak up against our leader if we don't agree with their policies (we have a democracy) that freedom is given to the people yet ironically taken away by the people!

    Good on the Dixie Chick for standing up for what they believe in, regarldess of whether or not u agree with what they said. And shame on those who treated them like crap for exercising a fundamental right given to us through our legal systems.

    aussiegirl87on June 10, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I was reading this comment and I was surprise to see that "kelshamrocks" wrote the things he or she did. Just stick with singing? So in this society people can’t express their feeling on things that matter. That is complete B.S. What about bands like Rise Against, Rage Against The Machine, Nofx, Bright Eyes, and etc. What I am taking is because they are woman, and they have feeling other then being in love or heartbroken they need to shut up. Who are you? I am sure that people on this board have made up there own mind in whether to support Bush or not, but the song itself isn’t about Bush directly, it is about what happen afterwards. Of course that would be an experience you want to write about and sing about. It is about passion.

    Sorry, but your a idiot.

    Danni_baueron June 14, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Love this song! I always listen to it really loud when I am pissed!

    lindsaylovesmusicon October 13, 2010   Link

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