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.
Rated "X"
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And things didn't seem to work out
Divorce is the key to bein' lose and free
So you're gonna be talked about
Everybody knows that you've loved once
They think you'll love again
You can't have a male friend
And if you're rated X
You're some kind of goal
That even man turned civil try to make
But I think it's wrong to judge every picture
If a cheap camera makes a mistake
And when your best friend's husband says to you
You've sure started lookin' good
You should've known he would
And he would if he could and he will if you're rated X
Well, nobody knows where you're goin'
But they sure know where you've been
All their thinkin' of is your experience of love
Their minds eat up with sin
The women all look at you like you're bad
The men all hope you are
But if you go too far you're gonna wear the scar
Of a woman rated X
And if you're rated X
You're some kind of goal
That even man turned civil try to make
But I think it's wrong to judge every picture
If a cheap camera makes a mistake
And when your best friend's husband says to you
You've sure started lookin' good
You should've known he would
And he would if he could and he will if you're rated X
The song "Rated X" by Loretta Lynn delves into the societal judgments that women face when they go through a divorce. Lynn is speaking directly to women who have gone through a divorce, telling them that they are free to do as they please, but there will always be people who judge them for it. She highlights the double standard between men and women in the way that they are judged for their actions, emphasizing that a woman who has been divorced and has male friends is labeled as a "has been of a woman" and "rated X", while a man can do what he wants without any social repercussions.
Throughout the song, Lynn is urging women not to be ashamed of their actions and to live their lives the way they want to, regardless of what others may think. She acknowledges that people may talk and judge, but it is ultimately up to the woman to make her own choices and not be weighed down by societal expectations. When Lynn sings "if you go too far you're gonna wear the scar of a woman rated X", she is emphasizing that there are consequences to being true to oneself, but that they are worth it in the end.
In conclusion, "Rated X" is a powerful message that highlights the hypocrisy and double standards faced by women in society. Loretta Lynn encourages women to be true to themselves, even if it means being judged, and to not be held back by societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, if you've been a married woman
If you've been a married woman
And things didn't seem to work out
And your marriage ended in divorce
Divorce is the key to bein' lose and free
Divorce is the key to becoming single and free
So you're gonna be talked about
But people will still talk about you
Everybody knows that you've loved once
Everyone knows you’ve been in love before
They think you'll love again
They assume you’ll find love again
You can't have a male friend
But as a divorced woman, you can’t have a male friend without being judged
When you're a has been of a woman you're rated X
Once you’re considered a ‘has-been’ divorced woman, society will rate you as a sexual outcast (rated X)
And if you're rated X
If you’re deemed a sexual outcast (rated X)
You're some kind of goal
You are viewed as a sexual conquest to some men regardless of your wishes
That even man turned civil try to make
Even men who claim to be chivalrous will try to take advantage of you
But I think it's wrong to judge every picture
But it's unfair to judge every divorced woman for the mistakes of a few
If a cheap camera makes a mistake
If a low-quality camera can make mistakes
And when your best friend's husband says to you
And when your friend’s husband compliments you
You've sure started lookin' good
You’ve been looking attractive lately
You should've known he would
You should’ve known he would hit on you
And he would if he could and he will if you're rated X
And he’ll take advantage of you if he can, especially if you’re deemed a sexual outcast (rated X)
Well, nobody knows where you're goin'
No one knows where your life is headed
But they sure know where you've been
But everyone knows about your past relationships and divorce
All their thinkin' of is your experience of love
All people think about is your past experiences with love
Their minds eat up with sin
Their judgmental attitudes are full of sin
The women all look at you like you're bad
Other women view you as a bad influence or a threat
The men all hope you are
But some men hope that you’re sexually promiscuous
But if you go too far you're gonna wear the scar
But if you engage in too much sexual behavior, you will be judged forever
Of a woman rated X
And be deemed a sexual outcast (rated X)
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GWade1217
Well if you've been a married woman
And things didn't seem to work out
Divorce is the key to being loose and free
But you're gonna be talked about
Everybody knows that you loved once
They think you'll love again
You can't have a male friend
When you're a has been
Or a woman, you're rated x
[yeah]
And if you're rated x
You're some kinda gold
That even men turn [?] to make
But I think it's wrong
To judge every picture
If a cheap camera makes a mistake
So if your best friend's husband
Says to you
That you started lookin' good
You should've known he would
And he would if he could
And he will if you're rated x
Well nobody knows where you're going
But they sure know where you been
All they're thinking of
Is your experience in love
Well their minds fill up with sin
The women all look at you like you're bad
The men all hope you are
But if you go too far
You're gonna wear the scar
Of a women, rated x
[yeah]
And if you're rated x
You're some kinda gold
That even men turn [?] to make
But I think it's wrong
To judge every picture
If a cheap camera makes a mistake
So if your best friend's husband
Says to you
That you started lookin' good
You should've known he would
And he would if he could
And he will if you're rated x
Yeah us women don't have a chance
Cause if you've been married
You can't have any fun at all
You're rated x
No matter what they do
They're gonna talk about ya
Don't know what to think about it
Just let 'em talk
Just let 'em talk meg
@MMAfighter38113
RIP, Queen of Country Music
@patpeterson2671
Tammy to me is ... but country has so many tildes .... Tammy , Loretta , Donna , Dolly and Patsy .... the first four were true country ..... Patsy was the next evolution of country/pop
@MMAfighter38113
@@patpeterson2671 I know a lot of who don’t care for country music but like Johnny Cash. My mother is one of them, but she also likes Patsy Cline.
@musiclover3205
Rest in Peace Miss Loretta
@jessann3540
Rip Loretty we love ya
@billycates1143
The hills of Kentucky certainly gave us a tremendous lady.
@Krullmatic
Indeed! She was awesome! R.I.P.
@kathleenbenbow-reis2922
RIP Ms. Lynn.
@danallan1866
One of the best country 👌 tunes ever. Fun to play on guitar 🎸 too.Loretta always tells it like it is and if you don't like it oh well
@terri3746
I saw Loretta Lynn in concert three times and the last time I saw her she was sick with the flu and she sat for the entire show. She sounded just as good as any other times I had seen her. She inspired my 16 daughter to pick up the guitar and teach herself how to play by ear within six months and she sang Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, and many others. She saved and bought her own guitar.