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.
Still Rollin'
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eighteen wheels rollin' through the night
Sometimes I wonder 'bout this crazy lonely life
People come and go
Some you love and some you don't
Some you lose and some you learn to let go
And I don't know what I'm trying to find
Always missin' what I've left behind
But I keep rollin'
I keep on rollin'
I can't slow down
I can't tell you where I'm bound
Maybe I'm just spinning 'round and 'round
Maybe I'm a page
Of written words I can't erase
A book of songs I sing from stage to stage
And I know that there may come a day
When I have nothing more to say
Wonder if they'll think I've lost my way
But I'm still rollin'
I keep on rollin'
I'm still rollin'
I keep on rollin'
I'm still rollin'
I keep on rollin'
Gretchen Wilson's song "Still Rollin'" speaks of life on the road for a musician. As the lyrics suggest, the song touches upon the moments of loneliness and missing those left behind. The song begins with the artist reflecting on the journey, with roadside signs and the endless miles behind. "Eighteen wheels rollin' through the night" evokes the image of a truck driver on a long-haul journey. The artist then introduces one of the central themes of the song: "Sometimes I wonder 'bout this crazy lonely life," a life where people come and go, and one has to learn to let go.
The artist then mentions that she is searching for something but does not know what she is trying to find. This line suggests that the artist is still in search of a deeper meaning in her life. She also speaks of how she's always missing what she's left behind, which refers to the sacrifices she has made while on the road. Regardless, the artist keeps on moving, stealing love on borrowed time, as if this is the only way to understand and live her life.
The chorus is the title "Still Rollin'," repeated several times, emphasizing that the artist is still moving forward, despite the challenges of living on the road. In the next verse, the artist speaks about how she might be a page of written words she can't erase. This refers to the idea that as an artist, she has shared some of her innermost thoughts and emotions with her fans, and she cannot take them back. The final lines speak of the realization that one day she may have nothing more to say, and wonders if her fans will think she's lost her way.
Line by Line Meaning
Roadside signs
Passing by signs on the road to different places
Eighteen wheels rollin' through the night
A big rig trucker driving through the night
Sometimes I wonder 'bout this crazy lonely life
Reflecting on the challenging nature of living a solitary lifestyle
People come and go
Interactions with others are fleeting
Some you love and some you don't
Not everyone you meet is lovable
Some you lose and some you learn to let go
Parting ways with some people can be a natural and necessary occurrence
And I don't know what I'm trying to find
Feeling unsure about the path ahead
Stealing love on borrowed time
Taking love when possible, knowing it may be temporary
Always missin' what I've left behind
Nostalgic feelings for what has been left behind
But I keep rollin'
Persisting forward despite the challenges
I can't slow down
No time to pause
I can't tell you where I'm bound
Unclear where the journey will take her
Maybe I'm just spinning 'round and 'round
Feeling a sense of aimlessness
Maybe I'm a page
Perhaps she is likening herself to a book
Of written words I can't erase
Past experiences that cannot be undone
A book of songs I sing from stage to stage
A life story told through music performances
And I know that there may come a day
Recognizing the possibility of an end to this lifestyle
When I have nothing more to say
When she feels that she has exhausted her stories
Wonder if they'll think I've lost my way
Concern for how others will perceive her when she has nothing new to say
But I'm still rollin'
Continuing forward notwithstanding the challenges
I keep on rollin'
Persisting forward despite the challenges
I'm still rollin'
Continuing forward notwithstanding the challenges
I keep on rollin'
Persisting forward despite the challenges
I'm still rollin'
Continuing forward notwithstanding the challenges
I keep on rollin'
Persisting forward despite the challenges
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GRETCHEN FRANCES WILSON, VICKY LYNN MCGEHEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
C O
She actually has one of the better female country voices i've heard in the last 10 years; she is totall underappreciated. This gal can mix it up with the Wilson sisters (Heart) and sound as good as they do!
Fab Wayl
it is a shame that lhe last two records of Gretchen Wilson have not been more diffused on the radio. Clearly, she sings the best songs that she had ever sung.
Nursey Pants
Makes me sad. Her music is real and the way she presents herself is realistic. It’s sad that super fake sells
Lee Welch
Great voice, great songs. This one has a hint of Bob Sega about it. Thank you Gretchen. 👌👌👌
Shannon Clinton
Love her music she has a way of making you feel good about being just who you are
Jet DeLeon
It's so good to know that some people are still making good country music… that doesn't involve 808's, traps, and autotune…
James Meehan
I love how Gretchen is venturing a little out of country and more into heartland rock. Great song.
gazzzza
yeah no money as her accounts have said playing lets cash in on god and Resurrection shite a Billy Grahame did as as Larry Norman said .. "Why should the devil have all the good music ??
gazzzza
thinking a long the lines that we might see how the mid west bible belt might feel about a reformed dude ? like HElL YEAH .. I THINK I MiGHT HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT
crawly1025
I love this album and this song. Gretchen fan for life!👍🏻