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.
Van Lear Rose
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was sittin' on my daddy's knee
Listenin' to the stories that he told
He'd pull out that old photograph
Like a treasured memory from the past
And say child
This here's the Van Lear Rose
When he talked about her big blue eyes
And how her beauty ran down to her soul
She'd walk across the coal miner's yard
Them miner's would yell loud and hard
And they'd dream of who would hold
The Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Now the Van Lear Rose could've had her pick
And all the fellers figured rich
Until this poor boy caught her eye
His buddies would all laugh and say
Your dreamin' boy she'll never look your way
You'll never ever hold the Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Then one night in mid July
Underneath that ol' blue Kentucky sky
Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart
Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile
As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say
Your mama
She's the Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
In Loretta Lynn's song "Van Lear Rose," she reminisces about her father telling her stories of the "Van Lear Rose." The song is a tribute to her own mother, Clara Marie Ramey, who was nicknamed the "Van Lear Rose" after the town she grew up in, Van Lear, Kentucky. Lynn's father, Ted Webb, would often tell her stories of her mother's beauty, charm, and how she had captured his heart.
The song describes how Clara's beauty was the talk of the town, with the miners all vying for her attention. It was unexpected that she would choose Ted, a poor boy who caught her eye despite his lack of wealth. The song uses the Van Lear Rose as a metaphor for Clara's beauty and strength, likening her to a diamond in the coal.
Lynn's lyrics honor her mother's memory and celebrate the beauty and resilience of women in the face of adversity. Through the song, Lynn reveals the deep love and admiration she has for her mother, who clearly played an important role in shaping who she is today.
Line by Line Meaning
One of my fondest memories
One of the cherished recollections that I hold dear
Was sittin' on my daddy's knee
When I sat on my father's lap
Listenin' to the stories that he told
Hearing the tales he narrated
He'd pull out that old photograph
He would show me that aged picture
Like a treasured memory from the past
It was something he cherished from the past
And say child
He would address me as 'child'
This here's the Van Lear Rose
This picture is of the Van Lear Rose
Oh how it would bring a smile
It always brought a smile to his face
When he talked about her big blue eyes
Whenever he mentioned her large blue eyes
And how her beauty ran down to her soul
How her beauty was not just skin deep but reached her soul
She'd walk across the coal miner's yard
She would stroll through the coal miner's area
Them miner's would yell loud and hard
The miners would shout loudly
And they'd dream of who would hold
And they would dream about who would win her heart
The Van Lear Rose
Van Lear Rose was the name they called her
She was the belle of Johnson County
She was the most beautiful girl of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
She was famous from Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
She was a beauty to admire like a diamond among coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
All the miners would group around
Talk about the man that came to town
They would discuss the man who came to town
Right under their nose
He came without their knowledge
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
He won the heart of Van Lear Rose
Now the Van Lear Rose could've had her pick
Van Lear Rose could choose any man she wants
And all the fellers figured rich
All the men who coveted her thought they should be wealthy
Until this poor boy caught her eye
Until this pauper caught her attention
His buddies would all laugh and say
His friends would make fun and say
Your dreamin' boy she'll never look your way
You are living in a fantasy, she will never notice you
You'll never ever hold the Van Lear Rose
You will never have the chance to woo Van Lear Rose
Then one night in mid July
On a particular night in the middle of July
Underneath that ol' blue Kentucky sky
Under the blue sky of Kentucky
Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart
finally, this poor boy won the heart of the beautiful Van Lear Rose
Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile
My father would smile at my mother while they listened to this story
As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say
As he cleared my hair from my eyes, he would say
Your mama
Your mother
She's the Van Lear Rose
She is the Van Lear Rose
Right under their nose
Unnoticed by all
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Finally, he won the heart of Van Lear Rose, unbeknownst to everyone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LORETTA LYNN, PATSY LYNN BRUTTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jozzy Stewart
LYRICS
One of my fondest memories
Was sittin' on my daddy's knee
Listenin' to the stories that he told
He'd pull out that old photograph
Like a treasured memory from the past
And say child
This here's the Van Lear Rose
Oh how it would bring a smile
When he talked about her big blue eyes
And how her beauty ran down to her soul
She'd walk across the coal miner's yard
Them miner's would yell loud and hard
And they'd dream of who would hold
The Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Now the Van Lear Rose could've had her pick
And all the fellers figured rich
Until this poor boy caught her eye
His buddies would all laugh and say
Your dreamin' boy she'll never look your way
You'll never ever hold the Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Then one night in mid July
Underneath that ol' blue Kentucky sky
Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart
Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile
As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say
Your mama
She's the Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
jfess57
One of my fondest memories
Was sittin' on my daddy's knee
Listenin' to the stories that he told
He'd pull out that old photograph
Like a treasured memory from the past
And say child
This here's the Van Lear Rose
Oh how it would bring a smile
When he talked about her big blue eyes
And how her beauty ran down to her soul
She'd walk across the coal miner's yard
Them miner's would yell loud and hard
And they'd dream of who would hold
The Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Now the Van Lear Rose could've had her pick
And all the fellers figured rich
Until this poor boy caught her eye
His buddies would all laugh and say
Your dreamin' boy she'll never look your way
You'll never ever hold the Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Then one night in mid July
Underneath that ol' blue Kentucky sky
Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart
Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile
As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say
Your mama
She's the Van Lear Rose
She was the belle of Johnson County
Ohio river to Big Sandy
A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal
All the miner's they would gather 'round
Talk about the man that came to town
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Right under their nose
Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose
Her Roots Are Showing
Crying for the loss of a great lady I never met, but who I grew up listening to. I feel like she shaped the lives of so many women in the world. She will be deeply missed.
circleeh
but don't fear, she walked proud and cut trail for many,many,many. 😊😊👍💥
Natalie Smith
I grew up in an urban city, Camden NJ, 5 miles out of Philadelphia, and an African American female. I was around 14, when I first watched Coal Miner Daughter, joined her fan club, and read her book. That was the beginning to my journey to country Music. When I graduated high school in 1984 and was accepted to Tennessee State University, just to be in the same state with her and went to her store on Music Row. It's through this great lady, I started my Loretta Lynn collection of albums and Conway, through her, came my awareness of everyone else, but for me it will always be Loretta Lynn, also because we share the same birthday month, hers is the 14th and mine is the 20th of April. My friends used to tease me, how you listening to country music and crack jokes, Rap music was hitting hard on and breaking onto the scene at that time, but I had Loretta, Patsy, Tammy, Waylon and Hank Jr among others. Godspeed Mrs Lynn and thank you and Mooney for your contribution to music. MUCH LOVE to the family and God's peace.
Jerry Frederick
Beautiful Words.
God Bless you.
Good music is just that.
No color or anything else.
I'm 58 white, male and would never deny myself Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, James Brown, Ray Charles because I am not black or gay.
Great music is just great music.
David Whitehead
What a wonderful testimony! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Meagan Meyer
❤
Don FONTANA
Lovely story.
MIchael VanVorst
wow that's incredible. I'm also from nj and found a similar path to country music.
Donna Frost
We lost her today. Godspeed Loretta. Forever the Queen of Country Music. This is my favorite Loretta album. She and Jack White were magical together
Lisa Goolsby-Werdebaugh
💯🌹💯