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.
Pickin Wild Mountain Berries
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
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What's the use baby what's the use they ain't never gonna turn us loose
You got dirt all over your face and your lipstick is way out of place
Oh we gonna tell 'em what we tell 'em every time before
They won't leave us alone they want us to come home
We been busy makin' merries and pickin' wild mountain berries
We're pickin' wild mountain berries that's our excuse every time
We've been busy makin' merries and pickin' wild mountain berries
[Steel]
Conway I don't know Loretta I don't know if I can keep honey from lettin' it show
What's our plan tell me what's our plan now you know they won't understand
If my hair is a drippin' wet and my clothes are soakin' wet
And we didn't go skinny dippin' in a cement pond
You're my baby you're my man and though your hair is sure gettin' to be a mess
And there ain't no berries in your bucket now we'll explain it honey as best as we can
They won't leave us alone...
The lyrics to Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty's song Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries tell a story of two lovers who are constantly questioned about their whereabouts, but they have a constant excuse that they are out picking berries in the mountains. The first verse speaks about how they have been asked the same question before and they expect the same reaction from those who ask. The second verse shows the dilemma they face; there is dirt on the woman's face and her lipstick is misplaced. They wonder if they can keep their secret away from others who will not understand their ways. They talk about the plan and what to say when confronted with the question again.
The chorus highlights their excuse which is "We've been busy makin' merries and pickin' wild mountain berries". This line not only serves as a fun excuse but also depicts their carefree attitude towards the world. They are happy in each other's company, enjoying the little things in life. The third verse speaks about how they will explain it when confronted again. They talk about how their hair is a mess and there are no berries in the bucket, but they will still explain it to the best of their ability. Overall, the song portrays a love story where the two protagonists are trying to spend time away from the outside world and in each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Where you been where you been it's the same ole question again
You keep asking me where I've been, but it's always the same answer.
What's the use baby what's the use they ain't never gonna turn us loose
There's no point in explaining ourselves because they won't believe us anyway.
You got dirt all over your face and your lipstick is way out of place
You look a mess, but it's because we've been busy doing something else.
Oh we gonna tell 'em what we tell 'em every time before
We're going to use the same excuse we always use.
They won't leave us alone they want us to come home
They keep bothering us and wanting us to come back home.
We been busy makin' merries and pickin' wild mountain berries
We've been having fun and picking berries in the mountains.
We're pickin' wild mountain berries that's our excuse every time
Our go-to excuse is that we were picking berries in the mountains.
We've been busy makin' merries and pickin' wild mountain berries
We've been enjoying ourselves and picking berries in the mountains.
Conway I don't know Loretta I don't know if I can keep honey from lettin' it show
I don't know if I can keep lying and hiding what we've been doing.
What's our plan tell me what's our plan now you know they won't understand
We need to come up with a plan because they won't believe our excuse.
If my hair is a drippin' wet and my clothes are soakin' wet
If I look like I've been swimming and my clothes are wet.
And we didn't go skinny dippin' in a cement pond
And we definitely didn't go swimming in a pool.
You're my baby you're my man and though your hair is sure gettin' to be a mess
You're my partner and even though your hair looks messy.
And there ain't no berries in your bucket now we'll explain it honey as best as we can
Even though there are no berries in your basket, we'll do our best to explain what we've been up to.
They won't leave us alone...
They keep bothering us and won't leave us be.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOB MC REE, CLIFTON A. THOMAS, EDWARD S. JR THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind