Nutbush City Limits

The song 'Nutbush City Limits,' performed by the cast of Glee, paints a vivid picture of life in a small, rural town. The lyrics describe Nutbush, a modest community in Tennessee, highlighting its simplicity and the routines that define its residents' lives. The song opens with a description of the town's basic structures: a church house, a gin house, a schoolhouse, and an outhouse, all situated along Highway 19. This imagery sets the stage for a place where life is straightforward and unpretentious.

The song continues to detail the daily and weekly routines of Nutbush's inhabitants. The speed limit is strictly enforced at twenty-five miles per hour, and motorcycles are not allowed. The townspeople follow a predictable schedule: shopping on Fridays, attending church on Sundays, working in the fields during the week, and enjoying picnics on Labor Day. These routines emphasize the town's traditional values and the importance of community and religion in their lives.

The lyrics also touch on the town's restrictions and limitations. There is no whiskey for sale, and if one ends up in jail, the only provisions are salt pork and molasses. This further underscores the town's conservative and disciplined nature. Nutbush is described as a 'one-horse town,' a term often used to depict a small, quiet, and somewhat isolated community. Despite its limitations, the song conveys a sense of pride and identity among the residents, who embrace their town's unique character and way of life.