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Quittin' Snakes
“That don't make no sense.”
Northeast Florida Lenten Hick Rock
The Origin
“Quittin' Snakes, that don't make no sense.”
— Unnamed teenage hick, Jacksonville, FL, season of Lent
Pilot declined a snake in a Walmart parking lot during Lent. Teen accidentally named a band.
Biography
The Origin
Quittin' Snakes formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1988, and their name has never been satisfactorily explained to anyone who has asked.
When asked what "quittin' snakes" meant, lead vocalist Bobby Ray Durrence said: "It means what it means." When asked to elaborate, he said: "You either get it or you don't." When pressed: "Some folks are quitting snakes. Some folks aren't. We're the ones that are." This has never clarified anything.
The name generates a consistent response from everyone who hears it for the first time: a pause, a slight head tilt, and the words "that don't make no sense." The band considers this the correct response.
The True Origin
The name has a documented origin that Bobby Ray Durrence has never confirmed, denied, or discussed.
A Walmart parking lot. Jacksonville, Florida. The season of Lent.
A First Officer on an overnight, walking through the parking lot toward a seafood restaurant with his captain, was approached by two teenage hicks. One was holding a foot-long snake. The teenager held it up and said: "Y'all want a snake?"
The First Officer — his mind on Lent, it being the season of Lent — responded without particular deliberation: "No thanks. Trying to quit."
The teenager stared. "Whaaaaaaa?"
"Trying to quit," the First Officer repeated, with the calm of a man who has said a perfectly reasonable thing.
The teenager processed this. He arrived at his conclusion: "Quittin' Snakes. That don't make no sense." He stomped off in a huff. His companion followed. The snake went with them.
Somewhere in Jacksonville that evening, a teenage hick was telling someone about the crazy pilot who said he was trying to quit snakes. He had, without knowing it, named a band. He has no idea. The snake's whereabouts are unknown.
The Members
Bobby Ray Durrence “Bobby Ray”
FoundingLead Vocals / Guitar
Moved to Waycross, Georgia in 1996 for reasons he described as reasons. He plays occasionally at a bar in Waycross. The bar does not know about the band.
Dale "Snake" Conner “Snake”
FoundingLead Guitar
Got the nickname before the band formed. Its origin is unrelated to the band name. The coincidence has been noted. He has nothing to say about it.
Terry Mizell “Terry”
FoundingBass
From Callahan, FL. Still in Callahan. Has not moved. Plays bass with the patience of someone who has never been in a hurry in his life.
Phil "Bryceville" Strickland “Bryceville”
FoundingDrums
From Bryceville, FL. He goes by Bryceville because he is from Bryceville. People not from northeast Florida have no frame of reference for why this is a nickname. That is fine.
Discography
That Don't Make No Sense
Debut. Self-released. 300 copies from the truck. Distributed at a gas station in Macclenny.
Trying to Quit
The follow-up. Title refers to something. Nobody says what.
Jacksonville
Named after the city. The city did not respond.
Quittin' (The Final Record)
Just Quittin'. No snakes in the title. Make of that what you will.
Known Tracks
That Don't Make No Sense
Bobby Ray wrote it in one sitting and has never rewritten a single word. He considers this a statement.
Trying to Quit
The song that started everything. Interpretations vary.
Walmart Parking Lot at Dusk(Instrumental)
An instrumental. Nobody asked why. Nobody has explained it.
Season of Whatever
Lent is implied but never mentioned by name. Bobby Ray says this is because Bobby Ray does not know what Lent is.
Huff and Stomp
About walking away from a conversation in a huff. The most relatable song in the catalog.
Lent (Bobby Ray Doesn't Know What That Is)
The title was added by the label without Bobby Ray's knowledge. He found out at the pressing. He did not dispute it.
Waycross Is Not That Far (But It Is)
Bobby Ray wrote this before he moved to Waycross. The band considers this either ironic or prophetic.
Quittin' Snakes (Reprise)
Final track on the final album. Bobby Ray still won't explain the name.
Fan Testimonials
“I grew up in Macclenny. Every person I've shown this shirt to either immediately understood it or said "that don't make no sense." Both groups bought one.”
T. Crews — Macclenny, FL
“My priest saw me wearing this during Lent. He laughed for forty-five seconds. Then he bought one.”
Anonymous — Jacksonville, FL
“Someone offered me a snake once. I said no thanks. I didn't know that was a whole thing. Apparently it's a whole thing.”
Pilot — Jacksonville layover
“"Walmart Parking Lot at Dusk" is the greatest instrumental in Florida rock history. It sounds exactly like what it's called.”
Music Fan — Orange Park, FL
Official Merch
Shop Quittin' Snakes
Authentic world tour tees, hoodies, and more. Printed on demand and shipped from the US.
View Merch →Quick Facts
Origin
Jacksonville, Florida
Active
1988–1996
Label
Walmart Parking Lot Records
Sounds Like
Southern hick rock — loud guitars, stubborn rhythm, rural Florida energy, outlaw country rock — parking lot recording quality, raw and unpolished, Northeast Florida bar band — the specific sound of people who have opinions
Tone
deadpan hick
Northeast Florida Circuit 1991
Jacksonville, FL
The Walmart Parking Lot (Opener)
Orange Park, FL
Waycross, GA
Folkston, GA
Callahan, FL
Bryceville, FL
Macclenny, FL
Kingsland, GA
Jacksonville, FL (Return)
"That Don't Make No Sense"
On the Shirt
“Still quitting.”