Wednesday 5 October 2022

My Top Ten Loretta Lynn Songs


Country legend. Feminist icon. Very tough, very funny, very smart lady.

The news of Loretta Lynn's passing came through late yesterday afternoon, but I wanted to pay tribute as quickly as I could. Off the top of my head then, here are ten of her best. I'm sure I've missed some classics, but how am I supposed to compress seven decades of music making into just one post?


The amazing origin story! And below is its most recent, heartbreaking recording...



Also recorded last year, the title track of her 46th solo album, guest starring Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood, just two of the many, many contemporary country stars who owe their careers to Loretta.


Everybody knows that you've loved once
They think you'll love again
You can't have a male friend when you're a has been
Or a woman you're rated X

And if you're rated X you're some kind of goal
Even men turnin' silver try to make
But I think it's wrong to judge every picture
If a cheap camera makes a mistake
And when your best friend's husband says to you
You've sure started lookin' good
You should've known he would
And he would if he could
And he will if you're rated X


Feminist icon #1. Because who else gave a voice to mothers and housewives like Loretta did?


I'm about as old fashioned as I can be and I hope you're likin' what you see
Cause if you're lookin' at me you're lookin' at country

Truer words never been spoken.

5. You're The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly (with Conway Twitty)

You're the reason I changed to beer from soda pop
An' you're the reason I never get to go to the beauty shop
You're the reason our kids are ugly, little darling
Oh, but looks ain't everything
And money ain't everything
But, I love you just the same


Feminist icon #2. Even if it got her records banned.


Why would you want to go down the pub if you had Loretta back home? Fool!

2. As Soon As I Hang Up The Phone (with Conway Twitty)

Melodrama has never been so perfectly tragic.

1. Fist City

If you don't wanna go to fist city
You better detour around my town
'Cause I'll grab a you by the hair a the head
And I'll lift off of the ground
I'm not a sayin' my baby's at saint
'Cause he ain't
And that he won't cat around with a kitty
I'm here to tell you gal to lay off a my man
If you don't want to go to fist city


Rest in peace, Loretta... I mean, give 'em hell on the other side!

4 comments:

  1. As you say, impossible to pick just 10 from such a back catalogue. Good selection.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well done for writing this off the top of your head. RIP Loretta.

    Alyson

    ReplyDelete

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