Welcome to Nashville or Bust, a website featuring the unique photography of Angela Faye. The name of the site was taken from one of Angela's most popular pieces... the "Old Truck". "Nashville or bust" has become a self-fulfilling phrase as Angie has transitioned into being a full time artist upon relocating to the Nashville area. The "...or bust" saying roughly translates into "complete success or nothing". This site and online store showcases Angela's framed photography and vintage-style metal signs. Check out the blog where she will be posting information on various art festivals she will be participating in through out the Summer.
"California or bust" is the archetypical phrase, model for so many imitations. The Great Plains of the U.S. were struck, in the 1930's, with two catastrophes: drought and the Great Depression. So many dirt farmers were left with no dirt, just dust and debt, in the wind storms destroying their farms, that some of them headed west on Route 66 towards what they hoped would be greener pastures in California, the "Golden State". Some of them had signs "California or bust" on their shabby jalopies and trucks, loaded with their families and few possessions, as sometimes shown in newsreels. When they got there many were known as Okies, having started in Oklahoma. See Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" for more about the Okies and their trek. Not all of the Okies were lifted up once they reached California, and there are still pockets of people referred to as Okies by other Californians.
As for "bust," I suppose they meant they were going to bust their guts trying, and failure would be complete. At any rate, it was a popular slogan of the time, no longer in vogue.
"Nashville or bust" seems capture the "reverse exodus" happening with the music scene in Nashville.