About The Song
Among the many songs in Loretta Lynn’s celebrated catalog, few capture her unique blend of humor, independence, and working-class grit as vividly as “Hey Loretta.” Released in 1973 and written by the brilliant Shel Silverstein, this track is a spirited departure from Lynn’s more somber or reflective material. Instead, it embraces a tone that is lively, tongue-in-cheek, and deeply rebellious—all while maintaining the unmistakable authenticity that made Loretta Lynn a voice for real women across America.
“Hey Loretta” is a musical monologue of liberation. It centers on a woman who’s finally had enough—of cooking, cleaning, and playing the dutiful wife. The chorus is a declaration of freedom: she’s packing her bags, heading for the bright lights, and reclaiming her life on her own terms. While some might have viewed this as comical or exaggerated, the undercurrent of genuine frustration rings true for many women of the era. This was 1973, after all—a time when the feminist movement was gaining traction, and traditional gender roles were increasingly under scrutiny. Yet in typical Lynn fashion, the message comes not from an ivory tower, but from the voice of a country woman who’s seen her share of hard days and long nights.
Vocally, Loretta Lynn is in top form here. She leans into the song’s playfulness with impeccable timing and a twinkle in her delivery, but never loses the edge of resolve that makes the narrator’s decision feel real. There’s laughter in her voice, yes, but it’s the laughter of a woman who’s finally done waiting for her life to change. She’s not asking for permission—she’s making a break.
The production mirrors the song’s vivacious spirit. Bright, upbeat instrumentation and a toe-tapping rhythm make “Hey Loretta” one of Lynn’s more pop-leaning country numbers, without sacrificing its honky-tonk roots. The arrangement is clean and crisp, allowing her voice to cut through with clarity and personality.
What makes “Hey Loretta” stand out isn’t just its catchiness or clever lyrics—it’s the way it so perfectly encapsulates the essence of Loretta Lynn herself. Here is a woman who could sing about sorrow and struggle with the best of them, but who also knew how to laugh, fight back, and carve her own path. In this song, we hear not just a character, but an echo of Lynn’s own fearless spirit—a reminder that sometimes, the best way to reclaim your dignity is with a smile, a suitcase, and a sharp-witted goodbye.
In an era when women’s voices were still too often muted, “Hey Loretta” proved once again that Loretta Lynn wasn’t just singing country songs—she was telling the truth. And doing it with flair.
Video
Lyric
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Well, a-goodbye tub and clothes line, goodbye pots and pansI’ma gonna take a Greyhound bus as further as I canI ain’t a-gonna wash no windows and I ain’t a-gonna scrub no floorsAnd when you realize I’m gone, I’m a gonna hear you roarAnd you’ll say, “Hey Loretta, I love you more than my Irish Setter”“Hey Loretta, don’t leave me alone”“Hey Loretta, I swear I’m a gonna treat you betterI’ll buy you brand new overalls if you’ll only come back home”I work my fingers to the bone and we don’t hardly speakAnd all I ever get is just a little kiss about once a weekSo you can feed the chickens and you can milk the cowThis a-woman’s liberation, honey, is gonna start right nowAnd you’ll say, “Hey Loretta, I love you more than my Irish Setter”“Hey Loretta, don’t leave me alone”“Hey Loretta, I swear I’m a gonna treat you betterI’ll buy you brand new overalls if you’ll only come back home”I’ll dress up like a movie star and pretty up my hairAnd no one here is a-gonna know what I’ll be doing thereI’ll be swinging from the chandelier and bouncin’ off the wallsInstead of lovin’ just one man, I’ma gonna love ’em allAnd you’ll say “Hey Loretta, I love you more than my Irish Setter”“Hey Loretta, don’t leave me alone”“Hey Loretta, I swear I’m a gonna treat you betterI’ll buy you brand new overalls if you’ll only come back home”