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.
Story Of My Life
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen and I'll tell it twice
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Well I was borned in old Kentucky
In them hills where folks are lucky
And it's paradise to me
If he asks me to marry well I know I will
He asked me to marry got kids of four
And I'm tellin' you
I don't want no more
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Doo got me a guitar
I wrote me a song
Moved to Nashville, it wasn't long
'Til I was on the Grand Ole Opry
We bought us a mansion on the hill
Livin' big like we were big deals
Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind
(pause)I was pregnant again
Oh gee, oh Lord, I swear
The babies are comin' in pairs
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Well some big shot from Hollywood
Thought a movie 'bout my life would be good
It was a big hit made a big splash
What I wanna know is what happened to the cash
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Now me and Doo, married forty-eight years
Six kids later a lot of laughter and tears
I have to say that I've been blessed
Not bad for this ol' Kentucky girl I guess
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Well here's the story of my life
Listen and I'll tell it twice
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Loretta Lynn's song "Story Of My Life" tells the story of her life in a narrative form. The first verse tells of her birth and upbringing in Kentucky, where the folks are lucky, and the hills are a paradise to her. The second verse mentions her feller who lives over the hill and wants to marry her, but she is hesitant to do so because she already has four kids and doesn't want any more. The third verse is about how she got into music, wrote a song, moved to Nashville, and made it to the Grand Ole Opry. The fourth verse talks about how she and her husband, Doo, bought a mansion and had more kids, with the babies coming "in pairs." The fifth and final verse mentions how someone from Hollywood wanted to make a movie about her life, which turned out to be a big hit, but she wonders what happened to the money. The song ends with Lynn and Doo being married for 48 years, six kids later, and feeling blessed.
Line by Line Meaning
Well here's the story of my life
I am about to tell you my life story
Listen and I'll tell it twice
I want you to pay attention while I tell you about my life
Well I was borned in old Kentucky
I was born in Kentucky
In them hills where folks are lucky
The hills of Kentucky are a great place to live
And it's paradise to me
I love it there
Well I got a feller right over the hill
I have a man that lives near me
If he asks me to marry well I know I will
If he proposes, I will accept
He asked me to marry got kids of four
He has four children from a previous marriage
And I'm tellin' you
I don't want no more
I don't want to have any more children
Doo got me a guitar
My husband bought me a guitar
I wrote me a song
I wrote a song
Moved to Nashville, it wasn't long
'Til I was on the Grand Ole Opry
I moved to Nashville and soon after performed at the Grand Ole Opry
We bought us a mansion on the hill
We purchased a large home on a hill
Livin' big like we were big deals
We were living like important people
Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind
I felt like Scarlett O'Hara in the movie Gone With The Wind
(pause)I was pregnant again
I became pregnant again
Oh gee, oh Lord, I swear
The babies are comin' in pairs
I was surprised to learn that I was having twins
Well some big shot from Hollywood
A famous person from Hollywood
Thought a movie 'bout my life would be good
They thought my life story would make a good movie
It was a big hit made a big splash
The movie was very successful
What I wanna know is what happened to the cash
I am curious about the money made from the movie
Now me and Doo, married forty-eight years
My husband Doo and I have been married for 48 years
Six kids later a lot of laughter and tears
We have six children and have had many happy and sad moments together
I have to say that I've been blessed
I feel fortunate and lucky
Not bad for this ol' Kentucky girl I guess
Considering my humble beginnings, I have done pretty well
Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
This is just a fun way of ending the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, SURE - FIRE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: LORETTA LYNN, PATSY LYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rickyparish7419
Rest in peace beautiful lady. Wonderful album!
@dasmurfy1
Jack doesn't make Loretta Lynn's career in any way. What he has done is what the Stones did for Muddy Watters, Howling Wolf, and many of the other great blues guys. They reintroduced the public to treasures that all should enjoy. The Stones brought these blues guys upfront so the public could see what Elvis and many other guys based their careers around. Jack is showing a new generation what a great singer Lynn is.
@BrandiNaugle
This is so good!! I’m glad her daughter patsy encouraged her to get this published with Jack White she wrote it in 1959 and left if lay.
@peaceloverock6959
Brandi Naugle Music you sure it 59. The song mentions the bio pic & that wasn’t released till the 80s
@randystroder7676
Loretta added some verses to the song. She originally recorded it on her very first album in 1963.
@annpariseau1771
her songs are the best I love loretta lynn and her family
@stevewalters6853
RIP 10/4/22
@swampula
One of the best songs ever!!! Loretta is the queen of country music! Thanks to Jack White!
@haleyterwilliger6211
Waco Johnny Dean lorettta was around long before jack was thought of.
@alfpeca7538
@@haleyterwilliger6211 Amen to that