Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Van Lear, Kentucky in 1932. According to Songfacts, Loretta Lynn's superstar Country career started in 1960 when she recorded " I'm a Honky Tonk Girl " as her debut single. The song was a minor hit, climbing to #14 on Billboard's C&W Chart. By the late 1960s she had begun picking up various Female Vocalist of the Year trophies and in 1972 the singer became the first woman in history to win the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year trophy. Lynn dominated the Country charts throughout the rest of the decade and has continued to record hit records through the ensuing years. Her 50th anniversary year began with the award of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement on January 31, 2010.
Lynn released over 70 albums. She is the sister of country singer Crystal Gayle (born in Paintsville, Kentucky) and Peggy Sue, and is a cousin of Patty Loveless. Her father was a coal miner in Van Lear. Her biography was made into the 1980 film, Coal Miner's Daughter.
Country In My Genes
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
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They wanna to make me over, just a little more uptown.
Say I need to change my image, now tell me what's that mean.
Don't they know I've got country in my genes?
Well, I can't help the way I talk, I wouldn't change it if I could.
Sophisticated ain't my style, but country fits me good.
I ain't ashamed to wear what's been handed down to me.
I've got country in my genes, country in my blood.
It goes back generations. It's something I'm proud of.
It's something I was born with, what you get is what you see.
I'm just an old hillybilly with a country song to sing.
Lord, I've got country in my genes.
Oh that Earl Scruggs.
If country's hit the big time, me, I'm still the same.
I ain't above my raisin' and I ain't about to change.
I wouldn't trade my Wranglers for the finest gaberdine.
Lord, I've got country in my genes.
I've got country in my genes, country in my blood.
It goes back generations. It's something I'm proud of.
It's something I was born with, what you get is what you see.
I'm just an old hillybilly with a country song to sing.
Lord, I've got country in my genes.
I've got country in my genes, country in my blood.
It goes back generations. It's something I'm proud of.
It's something I was born with, what you get is what you see.
I'm an old Kentucky hillybilly with a country song to sing.
Lord, I've got country in my genes.
Lord, I've got country in my genes.
In "Country in My Genes," Loretta Lynn staunchly defends her country roots against those who criticize her for sounding too country or not sophisticated enough. The first verse implies that her record label or producers want her to change her image to be more modern or urban, but Loretta is steadfast in her refusal to do so. She sees nothing wrong with her Southern twang and traditional country attire, which she inherited from her ancestors. In the second verse, she explicitly says that she is proud of her heritage and would not trade it for anything, even if country music were suddenly the popular genre. To her, being a "hillybilly" with "country in [her] genes" is an inseparable part of her identity.
The refrain "I've got country in my genes" reinforces this concept and highlights the idea that her love for country music is not a superficial affectation, but a genuine passion rooted in her family history. It also reminds the listener that the genre itself is not some trendy invention, but rather a deeply ingrained cultural tradition that has endured for generations. Overall, the song is a tribute to both Loretta Lynn's personal background and the enduring appeal of country music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, they say that I'm too country, the way I look and sound.
People criticize me for being too rural in appearance and dialect.
They wanna to make me over, just a little more uptown.
They want to give me a more refined appearance.
Say I need to change my image, now tell me what's that mean.
They tell me to alter my outlook, but they don't specify how.
Don't they know I've got country in my genes?
My rural way of life and identity is deeply rooted in my family history.
Well, I can't help the way I talk, I wouldn't change it if I could.
I naturally speak with a rural dialect and wouldn't want to change it.
Sophisticated ain't my style, but country fits me good.
I don't feel comfortable in high society, but rural life is where I belong.
I ain't ashamed to wear what's been handed down to me.
I am proud to wear the traditional clothing of my rural heritage.
I've got country in my genes, country in my blood.
My rural identity is passed down through generations of my family.
It's something I'm proud of.
My rural heritage is something I value and cherish.
It's something I was born with, what you get is what you see.
My rural identity is inherent to who I am, and I won't pretend to be someone I'm not.
I'm just an old hillybilly with a country song to sing.
Despite criticism, I am a proud rural person who expresses myself through country music.
If country's hit the big time, me, I'm still the same.
I haven't changed my rural lifestyle despite the commercial success of country music.
I ain't above my raisin' and I ain't about to change.
I have respect for my rural upbringing and won't abandon it.
I wouldn't trade my Wranglers for the finest gaberdine.
I prefer durable and practical clothing over expensive, high-end fabric.
I'm an old Kentucky hillybilly with a country song to sing.
My rural Appalachian roots inspired me to create and perform country music.
Lord, I've got country in my genes.
My deep attachment to rural life is an integral part of who I am.
Lyrics © MDI MUSIC ADMIN & CONSULTATION, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BETTY KEY JARVIS, LARRY CORDLE, LARRY SHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind