When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
Why Not Me
The Judds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, don't you know this country girl's still free?
Why not me?
Well, you've finally come down to your old hometown
Your Kentucky girl's been waiting patiently
Why not me?
Why not me on a rainy day?
Why not me?
Why not me when the nights get cold?
Why not me when you're growin' old?
Why not me?
You've been searchin' from here to Singapore
Ain't it time that you notice the girl next door, baby
Why not me?
Oh, you had to see if the world was round
It's time that you learned how good settlin' down could be
Why not me?
Why not me on a rainy day?
Why not me to love your cares away?
Why not me?
Why not me when the nights get cold?
Why not me when you're growin' old?
Why not me?
You've been lookin' for love all around the world
Baby, don't you know this country girl's still free?
Why not me?
Why not me?
Baby, Why not me?
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
Oh, baby, why not me?
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
Oh, baby, why not me?
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
Oh, baby, why not me?
(La la la la, la la, la la la)
The Judds' song "Why Not Me" is a love song about a country girl who has been waiting for her love interest to return to their hometown and choose her over all the other women he has been searching for around the world. The song speaks to the fact that sometimes people search all over the world for something that has been close to them all along, and that true love can be found in unexpected places. The lyrics are a plea for the love interest to give the country girl a chance and choose her, as she has been waiting patiently for him to return.
The repetition of the phrase "why not me" throughout the song emphasizes the country girl's desire to be chosen and loved by the man she has been waiting for. The lyrics also highlight the comforting and reliable nature of settling down with someone, especially as they grow old together. The reference to rain and cold nights symbolize the ups and downs in life that can be overcome with the help of a loyal and loving partner.
Overall, the song portrays a message of hope, persistence, and the belief that true love is worth waiting for.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been lookin' for love all around the world
You've searched far and wide for love in different places
Baby, don't you know this country girl's still free?
Do you know that I, as a girl from this country, am still available?
Why not me?
Why can't I be the one you choose to love?
Well, you've finally come down to your old hometown
You've returned to your previous place of living
Your Kentucky girl's been waiting patiently
I, your girl from Kentucky, have been waiting for you to come back
Why not me?
Why can't it be me who you choose?
Why not me on a rainy day?
Why can't you share a rainy day with me?
Why not me to love your cares away?
Why can't I be the one to make you forget your worries and love you?
Why not me?
Why can't it be me who loves you like that?
Why not me when the nights get cold?
Why can't you choose me to keep you warm during cold nights?
Why not me when you're growin' old?
Why can't it be me to grow old with you?
Why not me?
Why can't I be the one to share my life with you?
You've been searchin' from here to Singapore
You've been traveling to far places in search of love
Ain't it time that you notice the girl next door, baby
Isn't it time that you realize that love is closer than you think, baby?
Why not me?
Why can't I be the one you choose to love?
Oh, you had to see if the world was round
You had to explore and experience the world
It's time that you learned how good settlin' down could be
But now it's time for you to realize how good it could be to settle down with me
Why not me?
Why can't I be the one you choose to love?
Why not me on a rainy day?
Why can't you share a rainy day with me?
Why not me to love your cares away?
Why can't I be the one to make you forget your worries and love you?
Why not me?
Why can't it be me who loves you like that?
Why not me when the nights get cold?
Why can't you choose me to keep you warm during cold nights?
Why not me when you're growin' old?
Why can't it be me to grow old with you?
Why not me?
Why can't I be the one to share my life with you?
You've been lookin' for love all around the world
You've searched far and wide for love in different places
Baby, don't you know this country girl's still free?
Do you know that I, as a girl from this country, am still available?
Why not me?
Why can't it be me who you choose to love?
Why not me?
Why can't I be the one you choose to love?
Baby, Why not me?
Baby, why can't it be me who you choose to love?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Sonny Throckmorton, Harlan Howard, Brent Maher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
celticblue2
This really hits hard. Rest in paradise, Naomi Judd. 😢
Nancy Hertz
Amen.
koen ivens
it give me pain,such a good singer....rest in peace Naomi.
Derek Staroba
she was only 76 this is the first I heard of this suspicious how did she pass
C.K Productions
This is one of Wynonna songs she sang at the concert i just came home from. She got emotional on some of the songs she used to sing with her mom. And so did I. One of the best concerts I have ever attended. The whole crowd sang along with her including me to some of Nomi and the Judds songs.
Polly Karlas
This North Carolina girl ❤ Kentucky's Naomi Judd ✝️
G_ Dubbya
All it takes is that first strum on the guitar......timeless.
You know it was an amazing time for country music and everyone who still remembers! 🥰😅
Thomas Williams
It was he best time period for country music. Never been anything close to this music since these folks retired. Makes me sad.
Donald Douglas
This is as good as it gets for artistry and production quality. Anyone of any persuasion of music can appreciate the full, rich sound of this track. Very well done, ladies!
Rest in peace, Naomi Judd. You are missed.
Mark Berryhill
Late,but you're correct. This is a song that any music lover should love. It should appeal to anyone.