Gretchen was born in Pocahontas, Illinois to a 16-year-old mother. Her father left before she was two years old, and she and her mother lived in trailer parks and relative poverty. Gretchen's mother worked as a waitress, and Gretchen herself dropped out of the 8th grade at age 15 to work as a cook and bartender in rural Illinois.
After a failed marriage to former Baywolfe bandmate Larry Rolens, Gretchen moved to Nashville and began dating Mike Penner. They have a daughter, Grace Frances Penner, who was born November 9, 2000.
Gretchen, who had sung for Kmart as a child, sang in two bar bands by the age of 20. In 1996 she moved to Nashville to sing back-up and record sample songs. In 2000, she met John Rich, a former member of Lonestar, who invited her to become his song-writing partner. Wilson signed with Epic Records in 2003 and recorded Here for the Party within the year.
Her first single, "Redneck Woman", was released in early 2004 and reached the top of the Hot Country Songs charts and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of "Redneck Woman" prompted an earlier-than-planned release for Here for the Party -- May 11, 2004 -- and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard country chart. It also reached #2 on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Internet album sales charts. She performed as a support artist for Brooks & Dunn and Montgomery Gentry.
She released the title track Here For The Party as the second single. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard country chart. Two other songs were released as singles, and both reached the top 10. Released in markets outside the U.S., the album hit #2 on the Australian country charts (behind Kasey Chambers) and the top 50 of the Australian charts. As of July 5, 2004, "Redneck Woman" was #1 on a world composite country chart (based on the U.S., UK, and Australia charts). The album went on sell more than 4 million copies in the U.S. and 5 million worldwide and was certified four times platinum.
On September 27, 2005, Gretchen released her second album, All Jacked Up, which peaked at #1 on both the Top 200 and Country album charts, but, after initial decent sales, the album quickly fell off the charts. It was certified Platinum and sold 1 million copies. The title track, All Jacked Up, peaked at a disappointing #8 on the Country singles chart and was the only song from the album to reach the top 10. The second single, I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today, peaked at #22. The third and the fourth singles were Politically Uncorrect and California Girls, which peaked respectively at #23 and #25 on the Country chart. Kid Rock appeared on "The Other Side of Me," an exclusive track that Target released with the album.
On February 28, 2006, Gretchen appeared on Kid Rock and The Twisted Brown Trucker Band's "Live" Trucker, as she performed "Picture" recorded at Detroit's Cobo Hall, 3/26/04. On November 2006, she released a new single called Come To Bed, a song produced by her friend John Rich, who also sings the background vocals. The song's suggestive video received a TV-14 S rating when aired on CMT.
Gretchen's "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Female Country Vocal Performance, and Best Country Song. In 2006, Wilson contributed a well-received cover of Kris Kristofferson's Sunday Mornin' Coming Down on the tribute CD The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson. In 2007, Wilson displayed her rock and roll vocals on the cable TV special VH1 Rock Honors, singing Heart's hit Barracuda, along with Alice in Chains and Heart member Nancy Wilson on guitars.,
On May 15, 2007, Gretchen released her third album, One of the Boys. The album debuted at #5 on the Top 200 and at #1 on the Country album chart. After 11 weeks, it exited the Billboard Top 200, having sold just 178,220 copies at that point. "Come To Bed" and "One Of The Boys", the first two singles released, both failed to enter the top 30 and missed the Hot 100 completely. The third single, "You Don't Have to Go Home", was even less successful, peaking at #53.
I'm Only Human
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
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When you walked up and pulled up a chair next to me
You told me your name with your hand on my knee
Boy what are you doin'
I've known some pretty wild men in my life
Take it from me honey you ain't that type
I'm doin' my best here to do what is right
Ever admitted you're hangin' around
The lonely in me keeps on
Wearin' me down
If you only knew what I'm
Thinkin' right now
Boy you're makin' me crazy
I'm wantin' you baby what are you doin' I'm only human
Boy you're makin' me crazy
I'm wantin' you baby
What are we doin' I'm only human
So reach in them jeans Boy
and put on that ring
The one that you think
you've been hidin' from me
If you don't mind would you
Hurry up please
I'm only human
Boy I'm only human
In the song "I'm Only Human" by Gretchen Wilson, the lyrics talk about the internal struggles a woman is facing when she meets a man who is already in a committed relationship with someone else. The first verse specifies that the man is not wearing his wedding ring, and he acts as if he is single. The woman is immediately attracted to him, and he starts flirting with her, which makes her question if it is the right thing to do. She has had experience with wild men in her past and wants to make sure she doesn't make the same mistake again. She knows what she wants, but the thought of breaking someone else's relationship is killing her inside.
As the song carries on, she admits that she is hanging around because she is lonely, and this man is making her crazy. She wants him badly, but her conscience won't let her make any bad decisions. She urges the man to put back on his wedding ring and leave her alone since it is not fair to anyone involved. She admits to being only human and prone to making mistakes, but she is not going to make one this time.
Overall, this song talks about the struggle one goes through when they meet someone already in a committed relationship. It emphasizes values like honesty, respect, and doing the right thing, even in tempting situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Somehow I knew you'd just slipped off the ring
I had a feeling that you took off your wedding ring and you confirmed my suspicion by approaching me
When you walked up and pulled up a chair next to me
You sat beside me after coming up to me
You told me your name with your hand on my knee
You introduced yourself and also placed your hand on my knee
Boy what are you doin'
What are your intentions?
I've known some pretty wild men in my life
Throughout my life, I have met some reckless men
Take it from me honey you ain't that type
I can tell that you are not like those men
I'm doin' my best here to do what is right
I am making an effort to act sensibly
But I'm only human
However, I am only human and I have my limitations
Ever admitted you're hangin' around
Have you ever confessed that you are hanging around just for the sake of it
The lonely in me keeps on wearin' me down
I often feel lonely and it is causing me stress and discomfort
If you only knew what I'm thinkin' right now
If you had an idea of what I am feeling at the moment
Boy you're makin' me crazy
You are driving me insane
I'm wantin' you baby what are you doin' I'm only human
I am attracted to you but I am aware of my limitations as a human being
So reach in them jeans Boy and put on that ring
Take out your ring from your jeans and wear it
The one that you think you've been hidin' from me
The ring that you believe you have concealed from me
If you don't mind would you Hurry up please
If possible, would you please act quickly and put on your ring
I'm only human Boy I'm only human
I am human and I have my flaws and limitations, so please respect that
Lyrics © Roba Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DAVE N BERG, VICKY MCGEHEE, RIVERS N RUTHERFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind