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.
Walk On Water
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tuesday I get up before dawn
Wednesday pouring coffee
Thursday night I'm tending the bar
Well, when Friday night rolls around
I call my rough and rowdy friends and we're honky tonk loud
I work hard, I play harder
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard,
I play harder
I don't waste my time on
Manicures and spray on tans
And I don't pay no never mind
To the callouses I've had on my hands
You know that people just can't understand how
I'm the first to clock in but the last to pass out
I work hard, I play harder
I'm a good timin' American daughter
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard,
I play harder
Yea yea yea yea yeah
I work hard, I play harder
I'm a good timin' American daughter
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I work hard, I play harder
I'm a good timin' American daughter
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard,
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard,
I play harder
In Gretchen Wilson's song Walk On Water, the lyrics depict a woman who works hard during the week and parties hard on weekends. The opening lines set the stage for the rest of the song by running through the busy workweek of the singer, from Monday to Thursday. On Friday nights, she meets up with her rowdy friends to let loose and have a good time. The chorus emphasizes the idea that she works hard during the day, but plays even harder at night, constantly living her life to the fullest.
The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is unapologetic about her lifestyle choices - she doesn't care for manicures or spray-on tans, and isn't bothered by the callouses on her hands. It's a song that celebrates the blue-collar workers and the hard-working people who deserve to unwind and let loose when they can.
Line by Line Meaning
I work a double shift on Monday
I start my work week on Monday by working two shifts.
Tuesday I get up before dawn
On Tuesday, I wake up very early in the morning before sunrise.
Wednesday pouring coffee
On Wednesday, I work as a server, pouring coffee for customers.
Thursday night I'm tending the bar
For Thursday night, I work as a bartender to serve drinks to people.
Well, when Friday night rolls around
I call my rough and rowdy friends and we're honky tonk loud
Finally, when Friday comes, I call my boisterous friends and we celebrate the end of the week by partying loudly at a honky tonk.
I work hard, I play harder
I'm a good timin' American daughter
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I am a proud American woman who works diligently during the week and enjoys partying just as hard on the weekends. My job may be considered low-paying and manual labor, but I do not let that stop me from having a great time, even if it means spending all my money.
I don't waste my time on
Manicures and spray on tans
And I don't pay no never mind
To the callouses I've had on my hands
You know that people just can't understand how
I'm the first to clock in but the last to pass out
I am not someone who fusses over appearance by getting elaborate nail treatments or spray tans. I also do not mind the roughness of my hands from working with them all the time. Sometimes, others do not comprehend how I can come to work earlier than them and still be the last one to leave.
I work hard, I play harder
I'm a good timin' American daughter
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I am a hard worker and someone who embraces fun and leisure. My upbringing and job reflect the humble and honest roots of being a blue-collar citizen. Despite the challenges, I love to enjoy life to the fullest, even if I have to spend my last dollars doing so.
Yea yea yea yea yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and eagerness for the next opportunity to have a good time.
I work hard, I play harder
I'm a good timin' American daughter
Redneck, blue collar,
And I party down to my last dollar
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard,
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard,
I play harder
The chorus repeats once more to reinforce the idea that I am a diligent worker but also an avid party-goer. I am proud of my background and what I do for a living, but I will not let it stop me from celebrating the good times whenever I can.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DIPIERO, JEFFREY STEELE, TOM HAMBRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind