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.
Spiders And Snakes
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
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And I said, "Mmhm, yes, I do"
And she said, "Well, I don't have to go right home
And I'm the kind that don't want to be alone, if you would, I would too"
And so we took a stroll and wound up down by a swimmin' hole
And she said, "Do what you wanna do, I don't care"
Mmhm, I got silly and I found me a frog in the water by a holler log
And I shook it at her (eww)
I don't like spiders and snakes
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Like I want you to
I don't like spiders and snakes
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Like I wanna be loved by you
Well, I think of that girl from time to time
And I phone 'er up when I got me dime
And I say, "Hello baby, ain't you cool?"
She said, "Do you remember when?
And would you like to get together again?
And if you do, hey, I'll see you after school"
Well (it's a crazy song ain't it)
I was shy and so for awhile most of my lovin' was tough and smile
'Til she said, "Come on over here, I don't care"
Mhm mhm, I was nervous as you might guess
Still lookin' for somethin' to slip out her dress
And she said, "Evidently Conway, you don't know why we're here"
Yeah, I don't like spiders and snakes
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Like I want you to
I don't like spiders and snakes
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Like I wanna be loved by you
(We done done it, ain't we?)
(This could feel good)
The lyrics to Loretta Lynn's song "Spiders And Snakes" tell the story of a young man and his infatuation with a girl named Loretta. The song begins with the young man reminiscing about the time he first walked Loretta home and how they ended up at a swimming hole. He finds a frog in the water and shakes it at her, saying that the frog is for her. The chorus of the song makes the statement that the young man does not like spiders and snakes, and that is not what it takes for him to love Loretta.
The second verse of the song tells of the young man's occasional phone calls to Loretta, asking her out on a date. He is clearly still quite taken with her. He remembers when they used to hang out and suggests that they get together again. When they do finally get together, the young man is quite nervous and is hoping to find something to slip out of her dress. However, Loretta tells him that he doesn't know why they are really there.
The lyrics to "Spiders And Snakes" make use of a number of metaphors and analogies. The young man finds a frog in the water and shakes it at Loretta, saying that the frog is for her. The chorus of the song repeatedly states that the young man does not like spiders and snakes, implying that he is looking for something else in a partner. The song also deals with themes of teenage love and infatuation, and the confusion that often comes with those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember when Loretta Lynn said, "You want to walk me home again?
Loretta asked me if I wanted to walk her home, and I agreed.
And I said, "Mmhm, yes, I do"
I said yes, I wanted to walk her home.
And she said, "Well, I don't have to go right home
Loretta told me she didn't have to go home immediately.
And I'm the kind that don't want to be alone, if you would, I would too"
She continued to say that she didn't want to be alone and would like it if I walked her home.
And so we took a stroll and wound up down by a swimmin' hole
We ended up taking a walk and arrived at a swimming hole.
And she said, "Do what you wanna do, I don't care"
Loretta encouraged me to do whatever I wanted because she didn't mind.
Mmhm, I got silly and I found me a frog in the water by a holler log
I found a frog in the water by a holler log and played around with it.
And I shook it at her (eww)
I shook the frog at Loretta, which probably wasn't very appealing to her.
And I said, "Loretta this frog's for you" (put that thing on me)
I offered the frog to Loretta, but she didn't seem impressed.
I don't like spiders and snakes
I don't like spiders and snakes.
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Just because I don't like spiders and snakes doesn't mean that someone has to like them to love me.
Like I want you to
I have certain expectations for how someone should love me.
Well, I think of that girl from time to time
I still think about that girl from time to time.
And I phone 'er up when I got me dime
When I have some spare change, I call her up.
And I say, "Hello baby, ain't you cool?"
I greet her and compliment her by saying "Hello baby, ain't you cool?"
She said, "Do you remember when?
She asked me if I remembered a particular moment from our past.
And would you like to get together again?
She inquired about whether I would want to meet up with her again.
And if you do, hey, I'll see you after school"
She suggested that we meet up after school if I was interested.
Well (it's a crazy song ain't it)
I acknowledge that this song is a bit crazy.
I was shy and so for awhile most of my lovin' was tough and smile
I was shy at first, so most of my loving was expressed through smiles.
Til she said, "Come on over here, I don't care"
She encouraged me to come over to her, saying that she didn't care.
Mhm mhm, I was nervous as you might guess
I was nervous, as you might expect.
Still lookin' for somethin' to slip out her dress
I was still hoping to catch a glimpse of something under her dress.
And she said, "Evidently Conway, you don't know why we're here"
She made it clear that I didn't understand the nature of our relationship.
Yeah, I don't like spiders and snakes
I repeat that I don't like spiders and snakes.
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Again, I stress that someone doesn't have to like spiders and snakes to love me.
Like I want you to
I reiterate that I have certain expectations for how someone should love me.
(We done done it, ain't we?)
I jokingly ask if we've done everything we could.
(This could feel good)
I suggest that there could be some pleasure in our relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bellamy, Jim Stafford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind