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.
Women's Prison
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
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With bars all around
I caught my darlin' cheating
That's when I shot him down
I caught him in a honky-tonk
With a girl I used to know
The door to my cell is open wide
The judge says I'm guilty
My sentence is to die
I know I've been forgiven
But the price of love is high
The crowd outside is screamin'
Let the murderer die
But above all their voices
I can hear my mama cry
I'm sittin' here on death row
And Lord I've lost my mind
For love I've killed my darlin'
And for love I'll lose my life
I can hear the warden coming
From the clinging of his keys
But when they come to get me
He'll have to drag me off my knees
The door to my cell swings open
It's time for me to go
The priest is reading my last rights
He says, "Dying's part of livin' you know"
There's a crowd outside screamin'
Let that murderer fry
But above all their voices
You can hear my mama cry
Now they've strapped me in the chair
And covered up my eyes
And the last voice I hear on earth
Is my mama's cry
[Incomprehensible]
The lyrics to Loretta Lynn's "Women's Prison" tell the story of a woman who has committed a crime of passion. She caught her "darlin'" cheating on her with another woman and in a fit of rage, she shot him down. She is now in a women's prison, awaiting her sentence. Despite the fact that the door to her cell is open, she knows that she is guilty and must pay for her crime. The judge has sentenced her to death, and although she has been forgiven, the price of love is high.
As she sits on death row, she reflects on the events that led her to this point. She knows that she has lost her mind for love and that she will lose her life for love. Despite the fact that there is a crowd outside screaming for her to "fry," all she can hear is her mama's cry. As the time comes for her execution, she is resigned to her fate. The last voice she hears on earth is her mama's cry.
The lyrics to "Women's Prison" are a poignant portrayal of the circumstances that can lead someone to commit a crime of passion. They vividly illustrate the emotional turmoil that the singer experiences as she contemplates her fate. At the same time, they provide a window into the lives of women in prison and the harsh realities that they face on a daily basis.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in a women's prison
I'm trapped in a place that doesn't value me as a person or give me freedom to do what I want
With bars all around
There's no escape from this oppressive environment
I caught my darlin' cheating
The person I thought loved me betrayed my trust and loyalty
That's when I shot him down
I felt such pain and anger that I took drastic actions to end his deceitful ways
I caught him in a honky-tonk
The place where he disrespected our relationship and me
With a girl I used to know
He chose to be with someone from our past instead of being faithful to me
The door to my cell is open wide
Although physically trapped, I have the freedom to choose how I react to my situation
And a voice cries out oh no
I hear the despair and disappointment in someone's voice
The judge says I'm guilty
I'm being judged based only on my actions without any consideration for my emotions or circumstances
My sentence is to die
I'm being punished in a way that will completely end my existence
I know I've been forgiven
I have made peace with myself and come to terms with what I've done
But the price of love is high
Love can make people do things they never thought possible and comes with a significant emotional cost
The crowd outside is screamin'
People are quick to judge and demand punishment for those who don't conform to their moral standards
Let the murderer die
Someone's life has become so disposable that their death is seen as just another form of entertainment for spectators
But above all their voices
Despite the noise and chaos outside, I can still hear the person who loves me most
I can hear my mama cry
My mother is the only one who truly cares for me and is expressing her grief and helplessness over my fate
I'm sittin' here on death row
I'm constantly reminded of my impending doom and the inevitable end of my life
And Lord I've lost my mind
The prospect of dying has driven me to the brink of insanity
For love I've killed my darlin'
The love I had for someone is what ultimately led me to commit an unforgivable act
And for love I'll lose my life
The love that drove me to kill will also be what takes my life away
I can hear the warden coming
I'm painfully aware of the limited time I have left on this earth
From the clinging of his keys
The sound of the keys represents the power and authority that I'm at the mercy of
But when they come to get me
I refuse to go to my death willingly
He'll have to drag me off my knees
I'll fight until my very last breath to stay alive
The door to my cell swings open
The moment I've been dreading is finally here
It's time for me to go
My time on this earth is up
The priest is reading my last rights
An attempt to bring some sense of closure and peace in my final moments
He says, "Dying's part of livin' you know"
Death is an inevitable part of the circle of life and something that we all experience
There's a crowd outside screamin'
People are more concerned with their need for justice than they are with another human being's life
Let that murderer fry
They've reduced my entire life and existence to one action and want me to pay with my life
But above all their voices
Despite the judgment and hatred, my mother's love is still the most important thing in my life
You can hear my mama cry
My mother's voice is the sound I'll take with me to my grave
Now they've strapped me in the chair
I am no longer in control of my fate and am completely at the mercy of those who want me dead
And covered up my eyes
I'm no longer able to see or experience the world around me
And the last voice I hear on earth
The last thing I'll experience in this world is the sound of my mother's crying
Is my mama's cry
My mother's love will be the one thing I take with me to whatever lies beyond this life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LORETTA LYNN, PATSY LYNN BRUTTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@siahpiff9738
My moms from South Carolina and we grew up in Nor cal, this her favorite song, I love when she used to put this on at bbqs and block parties all the yuppie neighbors used to just stare and laugh at my honky momma but she didn’t care she was a real old school woman, love you mom miss you dearly!
@kimclayton2860
Under-rated song. I thought this was a rare gem in this CD that never got any attention. When I first read the title of this song I thought oh geeze some dirty song...then I knew it came Loretta Lynn which meant a story to it so I listened and I was not let down. Great written and sang song. Too bad it was never used in a film.....yet!
@StRick1013
This is the first time hearing this song for me, and you are 500% right, it came from Loretta which meant it was a story she wanted to tell...it is a greatly written song and only Loretta could sing this song. It SHOULD have been a single of this album because it would have earned her another Grammy, but trophy or no trophy, Loretta's songs are like the Diary of her life, and even after her stroke, she is STILL kicking and kicking it good, and who knows, this could be a great song in a movie about a "troubled marriage"...
@nickwalberry8599
Only an absolute legend could make a song about murder this intriguing and beautiful.
@mpec9405
Jacks arrangements on this album are so inspiring.
@deborahsullivan3529
She was a brilliant story teller and such a genuine person and stayed true to herself and her roots.
This is a part 2 to Fist City! IYKYK
@twarski
Ladies and gentlemen...the First Lady of country music...Miss Loretta Lynn!
@salem8617
The Queen of country music
@melodyfrierson7583
❤️❤️❤️❤️
@leah_goldman4299
Rest in peace Queen 👑 🕊️