You've Just Stepped In
Loretta Lynn Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You've just stepped in from steppin' out on me
And break that you've been on another spree
If you don't settle down and change your ways
I'll wound up steppin' out on you someday

I can't hold your love by force I wouldn't if I could
And I can't bring myself to leave though I know I should
You've just stepped in from steppin' out on me
You're not the faithful man I thought you'd be
Many nights I've wondered what you'd do
If you caught me a steppin' out on you

I can't hold your love by force I wouldn't if I could
And I can't bring myself to leave though I know I should
You've just stepped in from steppin' out on me
I'll bet your conscience hurts you constantly





Oh time and time again you've been untrue
So I'll just step in from steppin' out on you

Overall Meaning

Loretta Lynn's song "You've Just Stepped In" is a classic country song that perfectly captures the pain and frustration of a betrayed lover. The lyrics talk about a man who has been cheating on his partner and has just come home from another night out. The woman is hurt and angry, warning him that if he does not change his ways, she too will cheat on him one day.


The first verse begins with the woman telling her partner that she knows about his recent infidelity. She uses the phrase "stepping out" to describe his actions, which means he has been unfaithful. She tells him that if he does not change his ways, she will eventually cheat on him too. This line shows that she is not just a victim but is also capable of taking revenge if pushed too far.


The second verse talks about the difficult situation the woman is in. She knows she should leave her partner because of his infidelity, but she just can't bring herself to do it. The line "I can't hold your love by force I wouldn't if I could" shows that she understands that forcing someone to love her is wrong. Even though she knows she should leave him, she can't bring herself to do it.


In the final verse, the woman turns the tables on her partner by warning him that she too could cheat on him. The line "I'll just step in from steppin' out on you" shows that she is also capable of infidelity if her partner does not change his ways. The song ends on a bitter note, with the woman expressing her anger and frustration with her partner's behavior.


Line by Line Meaning

You've just stepped in from steppin' out on me
You've returned to me after being unfaithful


And break that you've been on another spree
You were on a streak of breaking my heart by cheating


If you don't settle down and change your ways
If you don't commit to being faithful and stop cheating


I'll wound up steppin' out on you someday
I'll end up cheating on you as a form of retaliation


I can't hold your love by force I wouldn't if I could
I can't make you love me if you don't want to and even if I could, I wouldn't


And I can't bring myself to leave though I know I should
Even though I know I should leave you because of your infidelity, I can't bring myself to do it


You're not the faithful man I thought you'd be
You're not the loyal partner that I expected you to be


Many nights I've wondered what you'd do
I've spent many sleepless nights wondering if you'd cheat on me


If you caught me a steppin' out on you
If you found out that I cheated on you


I'll bet your conscience hurts you constantly
You probably feel guilty and ashamed for cheating on me


Oh time and time again you've been untrue
You've been unfaithful to me multiple times


So I'll just step in from steppin' out on you
So I'll cheat on you as a form of revenge




Lyrics © SURE - FIRE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: DON TROWBRIDGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

sauquoit13456

On this day in 1968 {August 25th} Loretta Lynn's "You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out On Me)" peaked at #2* {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard...
Between 1960 to 2010 Loretta Lynn, as a solo artist, had sixty-five records on the Hot Country Singles chart, forty made the Top 10 with eleven* reaching #1...
As a duo with Conway Twitty she charted twelve times, and all twelve records made the Top 10 with five peaking at #1...
Loretta Lynn, born Loretta Webb, celebrated her 88th birthday four months ago on April 14th, 2020...
* "You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out On Me)" was Loretta Lynn's second of three records to peak at #2 on the Hot Country Singles chart, the other two were "When The Tingle Becomes A Chill" in 1975 and the above "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles Top 10 on August 25th, 1968:
At #3. "As Long As I Live" by George Jones
#4. "Already It's Heaven" by David Houston
#5. "Only Daddy That's Walk The Line" by Waylon Jennings
#6. "Dreams of The Everyday Housewife" by Glen Campbell
#7. "Love Takes Care of Me" by Jack Greene
#8. "Ramona" by Billy Walker
#9. "On Tap, In The Can Or In The Bottle" by Hank Thompson
#10. "Heaven Says Hello" by Sonny James



All comments from YouTube:

Donna Snyder

Loretta Lynn is the best country singer ever!!! Love her and all her music.

John Jackson

I love her I was raised on her voice and Tammy

Doug Oelke

I have always loved Loretta Lynn and her while family.

RD

Only Hank Williams and Loretta could write like this. What a talent!!!

Greg Kie

How brilliant is this Lady :)

sauquoit13456

On this day in 1968 {August 25th} Loretta Lynn's "You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out On Me)" peaked at #2* {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard...
Between 1960 to 2010 Loretta Lynn, as a solo artist, had sixty-five records on the Hot Country Singles chart, forty made the Top 10 with eleven* reaching #1...
As a duo with Conway Twitty she charted twelve times, and all twelve records made the Top 10 with five peaking at #1...
Loretta Lynn, born Loretta Webb, celebrated her 88th birthday four months ago on April 14th, 2020...
* "You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out On Me)" was Loretta Lynn's second of three records to peak at #2 on the Hot Country Singles chart, the other two were "When The Tingle Becomes A Chill" in 1975 and the above "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles Top 10 on August 25th, 1968:
At #3. "As Long As I Live" by George Jones
#4. "Already It's Heaven" by David Houston
#5. "Only Daddy That's Walk The Line" by Waylon Jennings
#6. "Dreams of The Everyday Housewife" by Glen Campbell
#7. "Love Takes Care of Me" by Jack Greene
#8. "Ramona" by Billy Walker
#9. "On Tap, In The Can Or In The Bottle" by Hank Thompson
#10. "Heaven Says Hello" by Sonny James

RD

This guy was so obvious below you.....you stayed with him till the end. love or honor either one is commemorable.

Miriam Williams

The song says it all for me..

barefoot and independent

LOVE this song! Glad I could be like #111

tina sayer

great song ...and he did catch me stepping out..... now he tows line

More Comments

More Versions