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.
Work Hard Play Harder
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 finally rolls around
I call my rough and rowdy friends and we're honkytonk 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
Now, 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
Yeah, yeah, 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, yeah
The song "Work Hard, Play Harder" by Gretchen Wilson is about a hardworking, blue-collar woman who spends most of her week working double shifts, pouring coffee, tending bar, and doing all kinds of manual labor. Despite the tough routine and callouses on her hands, she keeps on going and doesn't complain. Instead, she relishes the opportunity to let loose on the weekends with her "rough and rowdy" friends, who are just as hardworking and blue-collar as she is. They hit the honkytonks hard and party even harder, leaving it all out on the dancefloor and not holding back until their last dollar runs out.
The song is a celebration of the grit, determination, and resilience of working-class Americans, who may not have glamorous jobs or fancy lifestyles, but who know how to work hard and play even harder. It also touches on themes of camaraderie, loyalty, and community, as the singer's friends are described as being just as hardworking and fun-loving as she is. The lyrics are straightforward and unapologetically bold, conveying a sense of pride and self-assurance that is both inspiring and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
I work a double shift on Monday
I do back-to-back work on Mondays to make ends meet.
Tuesday I get up before dawn
I start my workday very early in the morning on Tuesdays.
Wednesday pouring coffee
I work as a coffee server on Wednesdays.
Thursday night I'm tending the bar
I work as a bartender on Thursday nights.
Well, when Friday finally rolls around
When the week is over, and Friday comes, I'm ready to party.
I call my rough and rowdy friends and we're honkytonk loud
I meet up with my loud and wild friends and go to a honkytonk bar.
I work hard, I play harder
I work very hard during the week, but I party even harder on weekends.
I'm a good timin' American daughter
I'm a patriotic and fun-loving American woman.
Redneck, blue collar
I come from a rural, working-class background.
And I party down to my last dollar
I spend all the money I have on partying until I have nothing left.
Now, I don't waste my time on
I don't spend my free time on superficial things such as
Manicures and spray on tans
getting manicures and spray tans.
And I don't pay no never mind
I don't care about
To the callouses I've had on my hands
the rough patches on my hands from doing hard work.
You know that people just can't understand how
People can't comprehend that
I'm the first to clock in but the last to pass out
I'm the first one to start working, but I'm also the last one to leave the party.
I work hard, I play harder
I have a strong work ethic and a strong partying ethic.
Yeah, yeah, yea, yea, yeah
Expressing enthusiasm.
I work hard, I play harder
Again, expressing my dual nature of hard work and hard partying.
I work hard, I work hard, I work hard
Reiterating that I put in a lot of effort into my work.
I play harder
And I party even harder.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRETCHEN WILSON, VICKY MCGEHEE, JOHN RICH, CHRIS ROBINSON, RICHARD ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vindicator58
Her music just kicks ass! Great voice, body, hair and attitude. A country babe!
Gretchen Wilson
Thats great. Thanks
I have come a long way to this great point and right from the very beginning you my fan have been solidly there for me, its been a landslide but we pull through together, your love and support are amazing and i appreciate your every little effort. Always believe in yourself to achieve your goals . Send your email address so I'll text you, hope you dont mind??
Crystal Pacheco
Love Gretchen,she is one of my most faorite country singer
Gretchen Wilson
Thats great. Thanks
I have come a long way to this great point and right from the very beginning you my fan have been solidly there for me, its been a landslide but we pull through together, your love and support are amazing and i appreciate your every little effort. Always believe in yourself to achieve your goals . Send your email address so I'll text you, hope you dont mind??
howard hardison
LOVE HER!!!!!. Love her voice, attitude, personality. She's the real stuff.
Gretchen Wilson
Thats great. Thanks
I have come a long way to this great point and right from the very beginning you my fan have been solidly there for me, its been a landslide but we pull through together, your love and support are amazing and i appreciate your every little effort. Always believe in yourself to achieve your goals . Send your email address so I'll text you, hope you dont mind??
Savannah Graham
I love this song. You go girl
Gretchen Wilson
Thats great. Thanks
I have come a long way to this great point and right from the very beginning you my fan have been solidly there for me, its been a landslide but we pull through together, your love and support are amazing and i appreciate your every little effort. Always believe in yourself to achieve your goals . Send your email address so I'll text you, hope you dont mind??
horsegirl713
This song is awesome!!
Gretchen Wilson
Thats great. Thanks
I have come a long way to this great point and right from the very beginning you my fan have been solidly there for me, its been a landslide but we pull through together, your love and support are amazing and i appreciate your every little effort. Always believe in yourself to achieve your goals . Send your email address so I'll text you, hope you dont mind??