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.
The Pill
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
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When I was your girl
Promised if I'd be your wife
You'd show me the world
But all I've seen of this old world
Is a bed and a doctor bill
I'm tearin' down your brooder house
'Cause now I've got the pill
All these years I've stayed at home
While you had all your fun
And every year that's gone by
Another baby's come
There's a gonna be some changes made
Right here on nursery hill
You've set this chicken your last time
'Cause now I've got the pill
This old maternity dress I've got
Is goin' in the garbage
The clothes I'm wearin' from now on
Won't take up so much yardage
Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills
Yeah I'm makin' up for all those years
Since I've got the pill
I'm tired of all your crowin'
How you and your hens play
While holdin' a couple in my arms
Another's on the way
This chicken's done tore up her nest
And I'm ready to make a deal
And ya can't afford to turn it down
'Cause you know I've got the pill
This incubator is overused
Because you've kept it filled
The feelin' good comes easy now
Since I've got the pill
It's gettin' dark it's roostin' time
Tonight's too good to be real
Oh, but daddy don't you worry none
'Cause mama's got the pill
Oh, daddy don't you worry none
'Cause mama's got the pill
Loretta Lynn's "The Pill" is a powerful and controversial song that showcases her bold, unapologetic feminism.The song addresses the predicament of a woman who has been promised the world by her lover, only to be stuck at home, pregnant and unhappy. The pill is the solution to her discontent, allowing her to take control of her body and her life.
The lyrics are a statement against the societal expectations of women to stay at home and bear children, without giving them a say in the matter. The singer, tired of being treated unjustly and undervalued by her husband and of having to go through multiple pregnancies, takes the decision to reclaim her body and disrupt the status quo. The chorus of the song emphasises the theme of autonomy and control over one's own life through the use of the pill.
The song was controversial and widely criticised when it was released in 1975, due to its explicit references to contraception and female independence. However, it has been celebrated as a feminist anthem that speaks to the experiences of countless women who have fought for the right to make choices about their own bodies.
Line by Line Meaning
You wined me and dined me
You treated me well and took me out on dates
When I was your girl
When I was your girlfriend
Promised if I'd be your wife
You promised to marry me
You'd show me the world
You'd take me on travels and life adventures
But all I've seen of this old world
But all I've experienced in life
Is a bed and a doctor bill
Is many medical bills from having babies and taking care of them
I'm tearin' down your brooder house
I'm destroying your poultry breeding house
'Cause now I've got the pill
Because I now have access to birth control
All these years I've stayed at home
All these years I've been a housewife
While you had all your fun
While you went out and had your adventures without me
And every year that's gone by
And each year that passed
Another baby's come
Another child was born
There's a gonna be some changes made
There will be some major changes happening
Right here on nursery hill
Right here where we raise our children
You've set this chicken your last time
You've impregnated me for the last time
'Cause now I've got the pill
Because I can control when I get pregnant
This old maternity dress I've got
This dress I wore when I was pregnant
Is goin' in the garbage
I'm getting rid of this dress
The clothes I'm wearin' from now on
The clothes I'll be wearing now
Won't take up so much yardage
Will be more revealing and won't cover as much skin
Miniskirts, hot pants and a few little fancy frills
Short skirts, tight shorts and a few little fancy things
Yeah I'm makin' up for all those years
I'm making up for all those years I couldn't dress this way
Since I've got the pill
Since I have control over when I have children
I'm tired of all your crowin'
I'm tired of all your bragging
How you and your hens play
How you and your male friends fool around
While holdin' a couple in my arms
While holding a baby in my arms
Another's on the way
Another baby is on the way
This chicken's done tore up her nest
I destroyed our home and family life
And I'm ready to make a deal
And I'm ready to negotiate a new way of living
And ya can't afford to turn it down
You can't ignore me and my needs anymore
'Cause you know I've got the pill
Because I can control when I have children
This incubator is overused
I'm tired of having so many children
Because you've kept it filled
Because you keep impregnating me
The feelin' good comes easy now
I feel good because I now have control over my fertility
Since I've got the pill
Since I can control when I have children
It's gettin' dark it's roostin' time
It's almost bedtime
Tonight's too good to be real
Tonight is too good to be true
Oh, but daddy don't you worry none
Oh, but don't you worry
'Cause mama's got the pill
Because I can control when I have children
Oh, daddy don't you worry none
Oh, but don't you worry
'Cause mama's got the pill
Because I can control when I have children
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Don McHan, Loretta Lynn, T.D. Bayless
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind