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.
You've Just Stepped In
Loretta Lynn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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
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
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