Born Donald Eugene Lytle in Greenfield, Ohio, he began playing guitar by age 6 and made his first record at age 15. After a time served in the United States Navy (which included a court-martial for assault), he began performing under the name Donny Young. The singer took a job with country music star George Jones, for whom he played bass and steel guitar for several years, co-writing Jones' hit song, "Once You've Had the Best." By the 1960s, he had changed his name to Johnny Paycheck, a name similar to Johnny Cash, which has sometimes caused confusion.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry, PayCheck is best remembered for his 1977 cover of, "Take This Job and Shove It" (written by David Allan Coe) which sold over 2 million copies and inspired a motion picture of the same name. Colorado Kool-Aid is another of his most famous songs. In his career, PayCheck recorded eleven songs that made it into country music's top ten chart plus he co-wrote several successful songs for other country singers including "Apartment #9," a hit for Tammy Wynette.
His life was often filled with turmoil and in 1985, PayCheck was convicted of shooting a man in Hillsboro, Ohio and spent two years in prison. His tax problems with the IRS led to his filing for bankruptcy in 1990. Later in the 1990s, he began capitalizing the fourth letter of his name in a style later dubbed CamelCase, preferring to be known as Johnny PayCheck.
PayCheck suffered from drug and alcohol addiction during his career, although he was said to have "put his life in order" [1] after his prison stay. Suffering from emphysema and asthma, after a lengthy illness, Johnny PayCheck died at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville.
He is survived by his wife Sharon PayCheck and son Jonathan PayCheck.
Slide off of Your Satin Sheets
Johnny Paycheck Lyrics
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Splendor Lord you got it wall to wall
And yet with all of that you're still not happy
'Cause every time he's gone I get your call
Slide off of you satin sheets
Slip into your long soft mink
You know where to find my door
Slide off of you satin sheets
Slip into your long soft mink
You know where to find my door
And I know what your cryin' for
Baby you once told me I was good for nothin'
And you couldn't live on dreams and crystal balls
His money buys you everything but my lovin'
So I guess I'm good for something after all
Slide off of you satin sheets
Slip into your long soft mink
You know where to find my door
And I know what your cryin' for
Slide off of you satin sheets
Slip into your long soft mink
You know where to find my door
And I know what your cryin' for
In this song, Johnny Paycheck sings about a woman who has everything she could possibly want – a luxurious mansion and all the material possessions that come along with it. Despite that, the woman is still unhappy, and every time her husband is gone, she turns to the singer for comfort. The singer tells her to “slide off of your satin sheets” and come to him instead, alluding to the idea that he can offer her something her husband cannot.
What’s interesting about this song is the subtext of class differences and socioeconomic dynamics. Although the woman is wealthy, she still turns to the singer, who is implied to be of a lower class, for emotional fulfillment. Additionally, the song explores themes of infidelity and betrayal – the woman is cheating on her husband and turning to someone else for comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
What a beautiful mansion he built you
Your husband has built you a beautiful mansion.
Splendor Lord you got it wall to wall
Your mansion is filled with splendor and luxury.
And yet with all of that you're still not happy
Despite having everything money can buy, you're still not happy.
'Cause every time he's gone I get your call
Whenever your husband is not around, you call me.
Baby you once told me I was good for nothin'
You insulted me by saying I'm good for nothing.
And you couldn't live on dreams and crystal balls
You said you can't survive on dreams and unrealistic fantasies.
His money buys you everything but my lovin'
Your husband's money can buy you everything except my love.
So I guess I'm good for something after all
You realize now that I'm good for something, which is giving you love.
Slide off of you satin sheets
You should leave your luxurious satin sheets and come to me.
Slip into your long soft mink
Wear your expensive soft mink coat and come to me.
You know where to find my door
You know where I live and where to find me.
And I know what your cryin' for
I know you're crying for my love and attention.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DON TANKERSLEY, WAYNE CARSON HEAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind