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.
Painkiller
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't seem to drown this hurt inside
The bottom of the bottle leaves me empty
I need something strong to ease my mind
[Chorus:]
I need a pain killer
Just one night of sleep
And get me over him
And it'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
Never thought I'd have to love another
Never been the kind to sleep around
I wish it was a pill and not a lover
It's gonna be so hard to swallow down
[Chorus]
And it'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
The song "Painkiller" by Gretchen Wilson talks about a broken-hearted person who is struggling to move on from a previous relationship. The singer has been drowning her sorrows in whiskey but hasn't been able to escape the pain she's feeling. She talks about how she needs something strong to ease her mind and a "painkiller" to help her through the night.
The chorus talks about how she needs someone to hold her close and help her get over her previous lover. She wishes it was a pill that could numb the pain, rather than another person she has to love. She is afraid that the bitter taste of moving on and loving someone else will be difficult to swallow down.
Overall, the song is about the struggle of moving on from a prior relationship and finding a way to ease the pain that comes with it. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has been through a difficult breakup and is looking for a way to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been pouring whiskey on your memory
I've been trying to forget you by drinking whiskey.
I can't seem to drown this hurt inside
I can't seem to get over the pain I feel inside.
The bottom of the bottle leaves me empty
Drinking too much alcohol leaves me feeling empty inside.
I need something strong to ease my mind
I need something that can help me forget and feel better.
I need a pain killer
I need something to make the pain go away.
Just one night of sleep
Just one night where I can sleep without feeling hurt.
Someone who will hold me close
Someone who can comfort me by holding me close.
And get me over him
And help me get over the person I'm hurting because of.
And it'll taste bitter
Whatever helps me get over this pain will not be easy to swallow.
Stranger set me free
I need someone, even if they are a stranger, to help me move on from this pain.
Before this pain kills me
I need to find a way to get over this pain before it becomes too much for me to bear.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALE PARIDJANIAN, OLIVER KNIGHTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tiaj428
Verse 1
I've been pouring whiskey on your memory
I can't seem to drown this hurt inside
The bottom of the bottle leaves me empty
I need something strong to ease my mind
Chorus
I need a pain killer
Just one night of sleep
Someone who will hold me close
And get me over him
And it'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
Verse 2
Never thought I'd have to love another
Never been the kind to sleep around
I wish it was a pill and not a lover
Its gonna be so hard to swallow down
Chorus
I need a pain killer
Just one night of sleep
Someone who will hold me close
And get me over him
And it'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
And It'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
@sherneljoseph8915
Such a great song!!! Much love coming from Saint Lucia in the Caribbean
@mikebland4935
She sure is a pain killer for someone that searches for real Country Music. She nails it in every way.
@tiaj428
Verse 1
I've been pouring whiskey on your memory
I can't seem to drown this hurt inside
The bottom of the bottle leaves me empty
I need something strong to ease my mind
Chorus
I need a pain killer
Just one night of sleep
Someone who will hold me close
And get me over him
And it'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
Verse 2
Never thought I'd have to love another
Never been the kind to sleep around
I wish it was a pill and not a lover
Its gonna be so hard to swallow down
Chorus
I need a pain killer
Just one night of sleep
Someone who will hold me close
And get me over him
And it'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
And It'll taste bitter
Stranger set me free
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
I need a pain killer
Before this pain kills me
@valmayrobertson6772
I love this song with all my might
@FranciscoMeloMelo
Bom som! continue assim! parabéns!
@mrpoolplayer6379
Gretchen this is a great song, millions will love it. The TRUTH ain't always friendly, but you can trust the TRUTH & you can hope the Pain Killer's work....
@marythompson5458
SHE HAS VOICE THAT BING TEARS TO YOUR EYES LOVELY VOICE
@montanalipscombe7740
Love your voice
@sandramiller8701
She's always had a good voice.
@montanalipscombe6206
oh geez I fell in love with your voice so so much so damn beautiful!!!!!