You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"
"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"
Single by Loretta Lynn
from the album You Ain't Woman Enough
B-side	"God Gave Me a Heart to Forgive"
Released	May 1966
Recorded	15 November 1965
Studio	Columbia Studio, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genre	Honky tonk country
Length	2:11
Label	Decca
Songwriter(s)	Loretta Lynn
Producer(s)	Owen Bradley
Loretta Lynn singles chronology

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" is a song written and originally recorded by American country artist Loretta Lynn. It was released as a single in May 1966 via Decca Records. The song has since been regarded as one of Lynn's signature songs.

Background and reception[]

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" was recorded at the Columbia Recording Studio on November 15, 1965. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the session was produced by renowned country music producer Owen Bradley. Three additional tracks were recorded during this session, including the single's B-side, "God Gave Me a Heart to Forgive" and Lynn's hit single "Dear Uncle Sam".^[1]

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" was based on a real life woman Lynn had met backstage before a concert. Lynn recounted in 2016 that the woman confided in Lynn about how another woman attempted to steal her husband from her. In response to her words, Lynn replied, "Honey, she ain't woman enough to take your man!" Following the conversation, Lynn went into her dressing room and wrote the song.^[2]

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles survey in 1966. The song became her eighth top ten single on the country chart and her biggest hit up to that point. It was included on her 1966 studio album, You Ain't Woman Enough.^[3]

Later versions[]

The song was performed by the Grateful Dead several times in 1973. Sung by female vocalist of the band, Donna Jean Godchaux, it was never played over its original play length and was kept from becoming one of their extended jams. Martina McBride covered the song for her album Timeless. The song has proved popular with southern soul artists with June Edwards (1968) and Shirley Brown (1995) recording two well known versions. A comedic version of the song was recorded for the 2005 film Be Cool by Dwayne Johnson, with the full music video viewable on the DVD extras and YouTube.^[4] Hayley Williams, lead singer of rock band Paramore, has regularly performed the song while on tour;^[5] in 2010, Paramore recorded the song for the tribute album Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. Also in 2010, Lisa McHugh recorded the song for her album Old Fashioned Girl. In 2018, Tina Turner covered the song for her album Soul Deep.

Track listings[]

7" vinyl single^[6]

"You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" – 2:11
"God Gave Me a Heart to Forgive" – 2:54

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1966)	Peak position
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)^[3]	2

References[]

^ "Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Loretta Lynn, part 1". Praguefrank. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
^ "Why Loretta Lynn Wrote "You Ain't Woman Enough"". PBS. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.
^ Dwayne Johnson - You Ain't Woman Enough
^ Paramore-You Ain't Woman Enough (Cover)
^ "Loretta Lynn - You Ain't Woman Enough/God Gave Me a Heart to Forgive (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

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[1] "Praguefrank's Country Discography 2: Loretta Lynn, part 1". Praguefrank. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

[2] "Why Loretta Lynn Wrote "You Ain't Woman Enough"". PBS. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

[Whitburn-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research.

[4] Dwayne Johnson - You Ain't Woman Enough

[5] Paramore-You Ain't Woman Enough (Cover)

[6] "Loretta Lynn - You Ain't Woman Enough/God Gave Me a Heart to Forgive (Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

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show v t Loretta Lynn singles
Albums Singles Discography with Conway Twitty
1960s	"I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" "Heartaches Meet Mr. Blues" "The Darkest Day" "I Walked Away from the Wreck" "Success" "World of Forgotten People" "The Other Woman" "Before I'm Over You" "Wine, Women and Song" "Mr. and Mrs. Used to Be" (with Ernest Tubb) "Happy Birthday" "Blue Kentucky Girl" "Our Hearts Are Holding Hands" (with Ernest Tubb) "The Home You're Tearing Down" "Dear Uncle Sam" "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" "Don't Come Home A'Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)" "Sweet Thang" (with Ernest Tubb) "If You're Not Gone Too Long" "What Kind of a Girl (Do You Think I Am)" "Fist City" "You've Just Stepped In (From Stepping Out on Me)" "Your Squaw Is on the Warpath" "Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)" "Who's Gonna Take the Garbage Out" (with Ernest Tubb) "To Make a Man (Feel Like a Man)" "Wings Upon Your Horns"
1970s	"I Know How" "You Wanna Give Me a Lift" "Coal Miner's Daughter" "I Wanna Be Free" "You're Lookin' at Country" "One's on the Way" "Here I Am Again" "Rated "X"" "Love Is the Foundation" "Hey Loretta" "They Don't Make 'em Like My Daddy" "Trouble in Paradise" "Shadrack, the Black Reindeer" "The Pill" "Home" "When the Tingle Becomes a Chill" "Red, White and Blue" "Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)" "She's Got You" "Why Can't He Be You" "Out of My Head and Back in My Bed" "Spring Fever" "We've Come a Long Way Baby" "I Can't Feel You Anymore" "I've Got a Picture of Us on My Mind"
1980s	"Pregnant Again" "Naked in the Rain" "Cheatin' on a Cheater" "Somebody Led Me Away" "I Lie" "Making Love from Memory" "Breakin' It" "Lyin', Cheatin', Woman Chasin', Honky Tonkin', Whiskey Drinkin' You" "Walking with My Memories" "Heart Don't Do This to Me" "Wouldn't It Be Great" "Just a Woman" "Who Was That Stranger" "Fly Away"
1990s– 2010s	"Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (with Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette) "Country in My Genes" "Miss Being Mrs." "Portland Oregon" (with Jack White) "Coal Miner's Daughter" (with Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert) "Wouldn't It Be Great" (re-recorded version) "I Fall to Pieces" "Coal Miner's Daughter" (recitation)