Every Loretta Lynn fan has a favorite song of hers, but we wanted to spotlight these for their simple, true, and poignant messages.
“You’re Looking at Country”
Not only was this song the very definition of “country,” it was the very definition of Lynn — ’cause country’s all I am — and what she was looking for in life.
“Wine, Women and Song”
A tale as old as time, with the lady of the house working hard at home while her husband’s out spending all their money on wine, women, and song.
“You’re the Reason Our Kids are Ugly”
One of Lynn’s wittiest collaborations with Conway Twitty, and one that paints a picture of a couple who accepts each other’s good, bad, and ugly.
“One’s on the Way”
This song about a pregnant Topeka mother with plenty of little kids already hanging on her apron strings could be Lynn’s most autobiographical tune, because she isn’t bitter about what she’s missing out on.
“You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)”
While Lynn’s husband may have had a wandering eye, he wasn’t able to get away with much knowing that any woman who thought she could steal him away would have to do so over her dead body.
“Fist City”
Again, Lynn has a sense of humor about infidelity, telling any woman interested in her husband that she needs to lay off her man unless she wants a bruisin’.
“I’m a Honky Tonk Girl”
Lynn had done nothing wrong when she wrote this song — her first — but she sounds convincing when she sings that losing him has made a fool of her.
“Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)”
Lynn was finally saying what all women were thinking then and are still thinking today — that liquor and love just don’t mix.
“Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”
The quintessential duet about being so in love that even the Mississippi River can’t keep these two apart.
“For Heaven’s Sake”
It’s surprising that more people haven’t named their baby girl Heaven after hearing this simple song about staying for sake of a child.
“Don’t Tell Me You’re Sorry”
To think that a man could fool his wife into thinking that the only reason he has another woman on his lap is that he is weighing her is downright hysterical.
“They Don’t Make ‘Em Like My Daddy”
This is a lesson in what a man needs to be. One who had hard work and big dreams born in him.
“Blue Kentucky Girl”
This was one of Lynn’s shortest songs, but it’s packed with the raw emotions she’s feeling when her man leaves her behind for the big city.
“If You’re Not Gone Too Long”
When she flips the script on a cheatin’ song, Lynn does it like no other. Telling her man that she’ll be true, unless he’s gone too long.
“Hey Loretta”
Once she is finally fed up with her man, Lynn decides that this woman’s liberation, honey, is gonna start right now.
Listen along to our Loretta Lynn playlist on Spotify.
From our April 2022 issue
Photography: (Featured image) Jimmy Ellis/USA Today Network; (Other) David McClister/Courtesy Essential Broadcast Media
