The song was written in 1995 by two of the founders of the original Dixie Chicks band, the Erwin sisters (now known as
Martie Maguire and
Emily Strayer), who were accustomed to writing music and performing. Strayer wrote most of the song, and Maguire supplied the bridge. It is a very autobiographical song, about the breakup of the sisters' parents and their subsequent divorce. In one interview, when asked about it, Emily said that their parents generally "sweep it under the rug", saying, "They know it's about them, but [whispers] we never talk about it. [laughs] They don't want to bring it up because they're still weird around each other. My dad doesn't want to think it's about him, because it doesn't make him look very good, and my mom thinks she's moved on." "You Were Mine" played a key role in bringing the Dixie Chicks from near-total obscurity to massive commercial success. Based on a recommendation from
session musician and
producer Lloyd Maines, in the summer of 1995 the Erwin sisters invited Maines' daughter
Natalie to return to her home in
Lubbock, Texas to sing the lead vocal on a
demo recording of the song, rather than using the Chicks' then-actual
lead vocalist Laura Lynch to sing the part. At the time, the sisters told the other supporting musicians that this was only because Lynch was unavailable due to being out of town on a personal matter. and simultaneously confirmed both sisters' suspicions that Maines' powerful versatile voice could complement their instrumental prowess, leading them to replace Lynch with Maines. When recording for the first-Maines-era album
Wide Open Spaces began, "You Were Mine" was the only song the band was certain would be included. but was not performed again until the
Long Time Gone Tour in 2013. ==Music video==