Coolidge's early career was as a backing vocalist, for artists such as Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Leon Russell. Her performance of "Superstar" on the Cocker/Russell Mad Dogs and Englishmen album helped gain her attention. She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Leon Russell to write a song of the same name for her. It was during this time that she met Kris Kristofferson; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums which sold well, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1974 for From the Bottle to the Bottom, and in 1976 for Lover Please.
In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of Walela, a Native American music trio, that also includes Coolidge's sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released albums in 1997 and 2000. Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee.
The Lady's Not For Sale
Rita Coolidge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But where the grass was greener
She done her going wild
And she tried to spread her tender wings
But never left the ground
So she turned to the breeze
At sweet sixteen
And woke up coming down
But she tries in her way climbing high
And she dies each time she fails
So give her a home
Or leave her alone
The lady's not for sale
She ain't ashamed to show her soul
She'll sell it for a song
But free don't mean she's easy
Or right for going wrong
Oh so let her be the Lady, Lord
She wants so bad to be
And let her win
The gentleman
She was born to please
But she tries in her way climbing high
And she dies each time she fails
So give her a home
Or leave her alone
The lady's not for sale
Oh so give her a home
Or just leave her alone
You know the lady is not for sale
The lyrics of Rita Coolidge's song, The Lady's Not For Sale, tell the story of a woman who seeks to be a lady but has a wild side to her. She wanted to be a lady since she was a child, but when she looked for greener pastures, she began to act recklessly. The woman tried to soar and test her limits at sixteen, but she always managed to come crashing down. Even though she fails every time she tries, she still climbs high in her own way.
Despite being unashamed to show her soul, she isn't easy and can go the wrong way. She desires to be the Lady, and she hopes to please the gentleman who values her. So, the singer conveys to the listeners that this woman, despite all her ups and downs, is not for sale. She only wants a home to belong to or to be left alone.
The song is a beautiful and empowering anthem that sings of women's freedom and independence. It urges the listeners to respect and recognize women's innate strength and capabilities, reinforcing the message that women are not commodities to be bought or sold. The lyrics touch the very essence of a woman's soul and how she desires to be valued and respected for who she is.
Line by Line Meaning
She longed to be a lady when she was just a child
As a child, she dreamed of being a refined, respected woman
But where the grass was greener, she done her going wild
When she saw others having fun and excitement, she took risks and rebelled
And she tried to spread her tender wings but never left the ground
She attempted to make something of herself but always fell short
So she turned to the breeze at sweet sixteen and woke up coming down
She turned to fleeting pleasures at a young age and quickly hit rock bottom
But she tries in her way climbing high and she dies each time she fails
Despite her efforts to improve, repeated failures take a toll on her
So give her a home or leave her alone, the lady's not for sale
Either provide her with stability and support, or let her live her life; she won't be bought or sold
She ain't ashamed to show her soul, she'll sell it for a song
She's unafraid to reveal her true self and offer it in exchange for something of value
But free don't mean she's easy or right for going wrong
However, her openness doesn't mean she's promiscuous or morally questionable
Oh so let her be the Lady, Lord, she wants so bad to be
Allow her to embody the refined woman she aspires to be
And let her win the gentleman she was born to please
Permit her to attract the man who appreciates and respects her refined nature
Oh so give her a home or just leave her alone, you know the lady is not for sale
Repeating the song's main message: either provide her with stability and support or let her live her life independently, without trying to control or manipulate her
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.