Oh the 1970’s…
Bold colored fashion choices, hippie music, roller discos, and good old fashioned country music. The 70’s were a little before my time, but it seems like the decade was definitely a vibe.
Country music was definitely thriving during the time, with the likes of Tanya Tucker, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, and of course, Loretta Lynn, releasing all time classic songs.
Of course, they didn’t know that at the time, so it kind of falls into the saying of “wishing you knew it was the good old days before you’ve left them.”
I’m sure the country artists had no idea that their songs would still hold up today, 50 years later.
And one of those songs that will forever stand against the test of time is without question “Coal Miner’s Daughter” by Loretta Lynn.
The tune, which was released in 1970 by Decca Records, became Lynn’s signature song and propelled her to country stardom.
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” is an autobiographical song that would later act as the guide for her autobiography and movie based upon her life. And not only is it one of her most popular songs, but it could even be considered one of the entire genre’s most recognizable pieces of work.
The song quickly reached #1 on the country charts, while its popularity even carried it into the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #83.
The lyrics of the Loretta Lynn classic tell a heartfelt and true story of the 3-time Grammy winner’s upbringing.
She sings of her appreciation of her mother and father for working so hard to give her the opportunity to do what she loves.
Though Lynn might’ve lived a relatively simple life as a child, she sings that she is more than proud to be a “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Loretta finishes off the song in poetic style, singing:
“In the summertime, we didn’t have shoes to wear
But in the wintertime, we’d all get a brand new pair
From a mail-order catalog
Money made from selling a hog
Daddy always managed to get the money somewhere
Yeah, I’m proud to be a coal miner’s daughter
I remember well the well where I drew water
The work we done was hard
At night, we’d sleep ’cause we were tired
I never thought of ever leaving Butcher Holler
Well, a lot of things have changed since wayback then
And it’s so good to be back home again
Not much left, but the floor
Nothing lives here anymore
Except the memories of a coal miner’s daughter”
Listen and enjoy the classic Loretta Lynn song “Coal Miner’s Daughter” below:
