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.
Politically Uncorrect
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm for the underdog god bless his soul
And I'm for the guys still pulling third shift
And the single mom raising her kids
And I'm for the preacher who stay on their knees
And I'm for the sinner who finally believed
And I'm For the farmer with dirt on his hands
And the soldiers who fight for this land
And I'm for the bible
And I'm for the flag
And I'm for the working man
Me and Ol' hag
I'm just one of many who can't get no respect
Politically uncorrect
I guess my opinion is all out of style
Don't get me started because I can get wild
And I'll make a fight for the four father's plan (That's Right)
Hell the world already knows where I stand
And I'm for the bible
And I'm for the flag
And I'm for the working man
Me and Ol' hag
I'm just one of many who can't get no respect
Politically uncorrect
Nothing Wrong with the bible
Nothing Wrong with the flag
Nothing Wrong with the working man
Me and Ol' Hag
We're just some of many that can't get no respect
Politically uncorrect
Politically uncorrect
The lyrics in Gretchen Wilson's song "Politically Uncorrect" talk about the singer's support for the underprivileged people in society, the working class, and the ones who fight for the country. The first verse talks about the singer's support for the low man, the underdog, the third shift workers, and the single mother raising her children. She also supports the preachers and sinners who have accepted their faith. The second verse declares the singer's support for the founding fathers' plan, which likely refers to the principles of individual freedom and limited government that the United States was built on. She portrays a position outside the mainstream, and she admits that her opinion is "all out of style." However, she's not afraid to fight for her beliefs, and she thinks that many others share her views.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of the Bible, the flag, and the working man. The singer is happy to have the company of her "Ol' hag," who shares her views. The final line resonates with people who feel that their opinions and beliefs are marginalized in contemporary politics. For them, the phrase "politically incorrect" expresses their frustration with the mainstream media and political establishment.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm for the low man on the totem pole
I support those who are at the bottom of the social hierarchy
And I'm for the underdog god bless his soul
I support those who are disadvantaged and fighting against stronger opponents
And I'm for the guys still pulling third shift
I support the workers who have to work long and inconvenient hours
And the single mom raising her kids
I support the mothers who have to raise their children single-handedly
And I'm for the preacher who stay on their knees
I support the religious leaders who devote themselves to prayer and service
And I'm for the sinner who finally believed
I support those who have made mistakes in the past but have found redemption and salvation
And I'm For the farmer with dirt on his hands
I support the hardworking farmers who put in sweat and toil to grow our food
And the soldiers who fight for this land
I support the brave men and women who risk their lives to defend our country
And I'm for the bible
I believe in the Christian scripture and its teachings
And I'm for the flag
I support the symbol of our nation and the freedom it represents
And I'm for the working man
I support the common, blue-collar workers who keep our nation moving
Me and Ol' hag
Referring to herself and someone else commonly misunderstood or undervalued
I'm just one of many who can't get no respect
I feel my values and beliefs are not held in high regard or taken seriously
Politically uncorrect
I do not conform to mainstream political correctness
I guess my opinion is all out of style
My beliefs and values are not in fashion with current societal norms
Don't get me started because I can get wild
If I start talking about these issues, my passion and fervor will become evident
And I'll make a fight for the four father's plan
I strongly support the principles laid out by our nation's founding fathers
Hell the world already knows where I stand
My beliefs and values are clear for all to see
Nothing Wrong with the bible
There is nothing offensive or incorrect about my belief in the Christian scripture
Nothing Wrong with the flag
There is nothing offensive or incorrect about my support for the symbol of our nation
Nothing Wrong with the working man
There is nothing offensive or incorrect about my support for the common, blue-collar workers
Politically uncorrect
I proudly do not conform to mainstream political correctness
Lyrics © COPYRIGHT SOLUTIONS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Henderson, Danny Steagall, Leslie Winn Satcher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind