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.
You're Lose a Good Thing
Barbara Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah, you'll lose a good thing
If you should lose me
Oh yeah, you'll lose a good thing
You know I love you, do anything for you
Just don't mistreat me and I'll be good to you
'Cause if you should lose me
I'm givin' you one more chance for you to do right
If you'll only straighten up, we'll have a good life
'Cause if you should lose me
Oh yeah,you'll lose a good thing
This is my last time, not asking any more
If you don't do right, I'm gonna march outta that door
And if you don't believe me
Just try it daddy and you'll lose a good thing
Just try it daddy and you'll lose a good thing
Just try it daddy and you'll lose a good thing
Just try it daddy and you'll lose a good thing
Just try it daddy and you'll lose a good thing
Barbara Lynn's "You'll Lose a Good Thing" is a song of warning to a lover who is taking the singer for granted. The song is addressed to someone who is not treating the singer with the respect and love she deserves. The singer loves this person but is tired of being mistreated and threatens to leave if they do not change their ways. The lyrics of the song express the singer's feelings of self-respect and confidence in leaving a relationship that does not value her.
The song conveys emotions of heartbreak and disappointment, but also of empowerment and self-respect. The singer believes that she deserves to be treated better and warns her partner that he will regret losing her. The repetition of the lines "If you should lose me/ Oh yeah, you'll lose a good thing" drives home the importance of the message.
Barbara Lynn's soulful performance of "You'll Lose a Good Thing" earned it the number one spot on the Billboard R&B chart in 1962. The song's popularity saw it cross over to the pop chart, where it also peaked at number eight. Today, it remains a timeless classic, with its message still resonating with many.
Line by Line Meaning
If you should lose me
If you let me go
Oh yeah, you'll lose a good thing
You'll regret it because I'm valuable
You know I love you, do anything for you
I'm committed to you and willing to make sacrifices
Just don't mistreat me and I'll be good to you
Treat me well and I'll treat you well
'Cause if you should lose me
Because if you let me go
I'm givin' you one more chance for you to do right
I'm giving you an opportunity to make things right
If you'll only straighten up, we'll have a good life
If you improve your behavior, we can have a happy life together
This is my last time, not asking any more
I won't give you any more chances after this
If you don't do right, I'm gonna march outta that door
If you continue to mistreat me, I'll leave
And if you don't believe me
And if you doubt me
Just try it daddy and you'll lose a good thing
Just let me go and you'll regret it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JAMIE MUSIC PUBLISHING CO, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Barbara Lynn Ozen, Huey Meaux
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EmilyAnn Frances May
She should be included in every history of music course!
Mark Riley
What a woman! She's playing the guitar, she's singing, and she looks damn good!
Marcella Norfleet
Who else is listening to Barbara Lynn in 2020? Classic for sure!!
aguinaldo cruz
2021
aguinaldo cruz
2021
Richard Trepsas
I am, big fan May 16, 2021
T.T. Stern
A Goddess...and she plays left handed guitar toođđđđ
T.T. Stern
A Goddess left handed guitar Wizard
Mikhal Taylor
My grandma was 6 when this song came out. She would sing it to me when I was a child⊠now that Iâve lost her, I definitely know Iâve lost a good thing. The best thing everâŠ. The feeling of love that she was. I miss jamming to the oldies but goodies with her.
A.B.
Donât know if itâs just me, but wow, she looks, plays, moves exactly like HendrixâŠprobably even before Hendrix was a name. So cool đ!