Barbara Lynn (January 16, 1942) is an American rhythm and blues singer, gui… Read Full Bio ↴Barbara Lynn (January 16, 1942) is an American rhythm and blues singer, guitarist and songwriter. She is best known for her R&B chart-topping hit, "You'll Lose A Good Thing" (1962).
She was born Barbara Lynn Ozen in Beaumont, Texas, and attended Hebert High School. She played piano as a child, but switched to guitar, which she plays left-handed. Inspired by blues artists Guitar Slim and Jimmy Reed, and pop acts Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee, and winning several local talent shows, she created an all-female band, Bobbie Lynn and Her Idols.
She began performing in local clubs in Texas. Singer Joe Barry saw her and introduced Lynn to producer Huey P. Meaux, who ran SugarHill Recording Studios and several record labels in New Orleans. Her first single, "You'll Lose A Good Thing", co-written by her and Meaux, was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's J&M studio with session musicians including Mac Rebennack (Dr. John). Released by Jamie Records, it was a number 1 US Billboard R&B chart hit and Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1962. The song was later recorded by Aretha Franklin and became a country hit record for Freddy Fender. Lynn also released an album, also titled You'll Lose A Good Thing, which featured ten of her compositions.
Unusually for the time, Lynn was a female African American singer who both wrote most of her own songs and played a lead instrument. Soon Lynn was touring with such soul musicians as Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown, Al Green, Carla Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Ike and Tina Turner, The Temptations, and B.B. King. She appeared at the Apollo Theater, twice on American Bandstand, and had her song, "Oh Baby (We've Got A Good Thing Goin')" (1964) covered by The Rolling Stones on their album The Rolling Stones Now! (1965). She continued to record for the Jamie label until 1966 and had several more minor hits.
In 1966 she signed to Meaux's Tribe label, and recorded "You Left the Water Running," which was covered by Otis Redding among others. She signed for Atlantic the following year, and recorded another album, Here Is Barbara Lynn, in 1968. She married for the first time at age 28, in 1970 and had three children. This, together with dissatisfaction with poor promotion by the record company, contributed to her decision to largely retire from the music business for most of the 1970s and 1980s. However, while living in Los Angeles, she occasionally appeared at local clubs, and released several singles on Jetstream and other small labels.
In 1984 she toured Japan, and recorded a live album, You Don't Have to Go, which was released later in the US. She resumed her recording career after her husband's death, and returned to Beaumont, Texas, where her mother lived. She also undertook further international tours, to Europe and elsewhere. In 1994, she recorded her first studio album for over twenty years, So Good, and released several more albums for various labels in later years.
She continues to reside in Beaumont, and was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. In 2002, electronic musician Moby sampled Lynn's "I'm A Good Woman" on his album, 18.
She was born Barbara Lynn Ozen in Beaumont, Texas, and attended Hebert High School. She played piano as a child, but switched to guitar, which she plays left-handed. Inspired by blues artists Guitar Slim and Jimmy Reed, and pop acts Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee, and winning several local talent shows, she created an all-female band, Bobbie Lynn and Her Idols.
She began performing in local clubs in Texas. Singer Joe Barry saw her and introduced Lynn to producer Huey P. Meaux, who ran SugarHill Recording Studios and several record labels in New Orleans. Her first single, "You'll Lose A Good Thing", co-written by her and Meaux, was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's J&M studio with session musicians including Mac Rebennack (Dr. John). Released by Jamie Records, it was a number 1 US Billboard R&B chart hit and Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1962. The song was later recorded by Aretha Franklin and became a country hit record for Freddy Fender. Lynn also released an album, also titled You'll Lose A Good Thing, which featured ten of her compositions.
Unusually for the time, Lynn was a female African American singer who both wrote most of her own songs and played a lead instrument. Soon Lynn was touring with such soul musicians as Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown, Al Green, Carla Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Ike and Tina Turner, The Temptations, and B.B. King. She appeared at the Apollo Theater, twice on American Bandstand, and had her song, "Oh Baby (We've Got A Good Thing Goin')" (1964) covered by The Rolling Stones on their album The Rolling Stones Now! (1965). She continued to record for the Jamie label until 1966 and had several more minor hits.
In 1966 she signed to Meaux's Tribe label, and recorded "You Left the Water Running," which was covered by Otis Redding among others. She signed for Atlantic the following year, and recorded another album, Here Is Barbara Lynn, in 1968. She married for the first time at age 28, in 1970 and had three children. This, together with dissatisfaction with poor promotion by the record company, contributed to her decision to largely retire from the music business for most of the 1970s and 1980s. However, while living in Los Angeles, she occasionally appeared at local clubs, and released several singles on Jetstream and other small labels.
In 1984 she toured Japan, and recorded a live album, You Don't Have to Go, which was released later in the US. She resumed her recording career after her husband's death, and returned to Beaumont, Texas, where her mother lived. She also undertook further international tours, to Europe and elsewhere. In 1994, she recorded her first studio album for over twenty years, So Good, and released several more albums for various labels in later years.
She continues to reside in Beaumont, and was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. In 2002, electronic musician Moby sampled Lynn's "I'm A Good Woman" on his album, 18.
I'd Rather Go Blind
Barbara Lynn Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I'd Rather Go Blind' by these artists:
Andrew Strong Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
B.B. King Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
B.B. King & Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
B.B. King & Friends Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
B.B. King/Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
BB King Friends Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
BB King & Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
BB King & Friends Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Beth & Joe Something told me that it was over, baby, yeah When I…
Beth Hart/Joe Bonamassa Something told me that it was over, baby, yeah When I…
Beyoncé Something told me it was over (yeah) when I saw…
Beyonce Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Black Dub With my knife so dull I'd kill it if I could But…
Chicken Shack Something told me it was over when I saw you…
Chickenshack Something told me it was over when I saw you…
Christine McVie Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Christine Perfect Something told me it was over when I saw you…
Clarence Carter Something told me it was over When I saw you…
Davina and The Vagabonds Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Dojo Cuts Something told me it was over, When I saw you and…
Dr. John/Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Dua Lipa Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
E. James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Etta James Something told me it was over when I saw you and…
Etta James & Dr. John Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Faces It's hard to believe that this is the place Where we…
Fleetwood Mac Something told me it was over when I saw you…
Grace Potter Something told me that it was over baby yeah When I…
Halie Loren Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Hucknall Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
JAMES Etta Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Jeff Beck & Beth hart Something told me that it was over, baby, yeah When I…
Joe Bonamassa & Beth Hart Something told me that it was over baby yeah When I…
Joe Bonamassa feat. Beth Hart Something told me that it was over, baby, yeah When I…
John Verity Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
KITCHEN - Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Koko Taylor Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Lala Romero Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Liam Bailey Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
LIVING ROOM - Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
Mary Coughlan Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Michael Grimm Something told me it was over,When I saw you and…
Mick Hucknall Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Moonshine Society Something told me it was over When I saw you…
Paul Kelly I suppose I should get over this I'm not the first…
Paul Weller Something told me it was over When I saw you…
Renee Wilkin Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Sheba Potts-Wright Just stepped out, over and over again Standin' my pride, eve…
Sidney Youngblood Something told me it was over When I saw you…
Soultans I’d rather go blind Than to hurt you You know how much…
Stan Webb Something told me it was over when I saw you…
Stan Webb's Chicken Shack Something told me it was over when I saw you…
Sydney Youngblood Something told me it was over When I saw you…
Taylor Koko Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
the FRIGHTNRS Something told me it was over (Yeah, yeah) When I saw you…
Trish Toledo Something told me it was over When I saw you and…
Trixie Whitley With my knife so dull I’d kill it if I could But…
VUSI NOVA Something told me It was over (yeah) When I saw you And her…
Youngblood Sydney Something told me it was over When I saw you…
Etta James Something told me it was over (yeah) When I saw you…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Barbara Lynn:
Don't Be Cruel You know I can be found (hey, hey) Sitting home all…
Forever Darlin', forever, forever You can break my heart Forever, if…
Give Me a Beak All I need, all I need, Is just a break. And I'm…
I'll Suffer Someday I'm gonna be happy You just wait and see Some people…
I'm a Good Woman Chenoa Miscellaneous Una Mujer (I'm A Woman) Cuánto te extra…
I'm Sorry I Met You Uri ije jinan ildeul modu ijeo beoryeoyo wonchi anteon manna…
I’ll Suffer Someday I'm gonna be happy You just wait and see Some people…
I’m A Good Woman You leave your home for days and days And I know…
Money The best things in life are free But you can keep…
Second Fiddle Girl Hey, hey, hey You've seen the world You went out with every…
Sweet Sixteen When I first met you baby, baby was I only…
Thanks I Get I heard that you're gonna leave me And there are rumours,…
Until Then I'll Suffer Someday I'm gonna be happy You just wait and see Some people…
You If you should lose me Oh yeah, you'll lose a good…
You Left the Water Running You left the water running when you left me here…
You'll Lose a Good Thing If you should lose me Oh yeah, you'll lose a good…
You'll Lose a Good Thing (Live) If you should lose me, oh yeah, you'll lose a…
You'll Lose a Good Thing - Rare Live Version If you should loo-oo-se me, Oh, yeah, you'll lose a good…
You're Gonna Need Me The whole town's talking About you and your new girl You're …
You're Lose a Good Thing If you should lose me Oh yeah, you'll lose a good…
You're Losing Me The whole town's talking About you and your new girl You're …
YOU`LL LOSE A GOOD THING If you should lose me Oh yeah, you'll lose a good…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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marbleann
A bunch of us should get a petition to get her in to that Guitarist hall of fame
tide slider
shes not in there wat the
Rog5446
What about the singers hall of fame?
Horse Footrot
Hmmm Sister Rosetta Tharph only made it..after Madonna?? Like her, Barbra should have been one of the first.
Nettie Graham
you show aint lying Im for it
Karen B
Love this version. Not many can get that feeling in this song
Nick Williams
How the hell did I reach 60 and not hear this before? I have always loved Etta singing this and Beth Heart kills it as well but this may just edge Etta off the top of my list, so much feeling in the vocal delivery its made me cry. Thank you for your version Barbara Lynn,
k vooo
now your here listening, with me.
4empres angalampu
@johnnyrockintalkin I do agree with you 110%, she needs to be rediscovered and needs to be honored now that she is alive. Miss barbara Lynn was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. There weren't really any women playing electric guitar than in those days( I think in the 60s) She is an incredible guitar player and soul singer, no doubt about that.
chylogurti
Great version of the Etta classic. You've got soul. Thanks for the posting.