The Story Behind The Song: "Don't Come Home A-Drinkin"

The song was produced by Owen Bradley and recorded at Bradley’s Barn in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, outside Nashville. The tune is an anthem for any woman who has experienced the same thing with a man. Lynn meant for women to relate specifically to the song, but that’s not to say that she wanted to insult men in any way. The singer says she simply spoke the truth.

“I like to be on the woman’s side, but I like to be on the man’s side, too,” she continued. “I never went out to put a man down in anything I’ve ever done. Men sometimes forget about a woman, especially if they drink. Sometimes a woman’s gotta say, ‘These boots are made for walkin’/One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.'”

Although the song was bold and controversial at the time, it was a success for the singer/songwriter, becoming her first-ever number one single on the Billboard country chart. The tune was also the catalyst for more success in Lynn’s career, including her winning Female Vocalist of the year at the first CMA Awards in 1967. The song also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country & Western Vocal Performance, Female. Multiple cover versions exist of the song, including covers recorded by Tammy Wynette and Gretchen Wilson.