Loretta Lynn, “The Pill” | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

In the 21^st edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, “The Pill” by Loretta Lynn.  

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot.  The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 21^st edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “The Pill” by 🎙 Loretta Lynn.  

Theme & Lyrics ✍

“But all I’ve seen of this old world is a bed and a doctor bill / I’m tearing down your brooder house ‘cause now I’ve got the pill.” On October 4, 2022, the world lost a country music icon.  The great 🎙 Loretta Lynn passed away at the age of 90.  For many, likely the first song that comes to mind from Lynn is 🎵 “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, an undeniable gem from her illustrious collection. However, a bolder, more controversial cut from the legend’s music output is 🎵 “The Pill”, which commences her 1975 album, 💿 Back To The Country. So, what makes “The Pill” controversial? It finds a country musician taking a liberal stance on birth control, which was still new at the time the record arrived.  Notably, birth control wasn’t legalized for unmarried people until 1972 🤯!  Regardless, “The Pill” was a minor success on the pop charts, peaking at no. 70, and was nominated for a 🏆 Grammy.  Even though Lynn gets the credit for the controversy, she didn’t write “The Pill” – it was penned by 🎼 ✍ Don McHan, 🎼 ✍ Lorene Allen, and 🎼 ✍ Theodore Debs Bayless.

“All these years, I’ve stayed at home while you had all your fun

And every year that’s gone by, another baby’s come

There’s gonna be some changes made right here on Nursery Hill

You’ve set this chicken your last time ‘cause now I’ve got the pill.”

Basically, Loretta Lynn embraces contraceptives, which didn’t align with conservative values, or country music, which itself leans conservative.  Lynn, tired of being tied down without options, speaks for women who feel like they have nothing to look forward to but pregnancy after pregnancy, and the arduous tasks of motherhood. Lynn isn’t against having children, but after having several in the context of the song, she’s tired and ready to enjoy life beyond a vicious cycle.  At one point, Lynn asserts, “This old maternity dress I’ve got is going in the garbage.”  Perhaps my favorite verse is:

“This incubator is over-used because you’ve kept it filled

But feeling good comes easy now since I’ve got the pill

It’s getting dark, it’s roosting time, tonight’s too good to be real

Aw, but Daddy don’t you worry none ’cause Mama’s got the pill

Oh, Daddy don’t you worry none ’cause Mama’s got the pill.”

To express how controversial “The Pill” is, even in 2022, per Time, Country radio doesn’t play “The Pill”.  Back when it arrived, The Grand Ole Opry nearly barred Lynn from performing it.  A song about contraceptives, especially a country song – far too liberal, right?

Final Thoughts 💭

Loretta Lynn was well ahead of her time, particularly in the context of country music.  She deserves a lot of credit for being brave enough to record and release 🎵 “The Pill”.  May the country legend rest in peace and may her music live on forever.

🎙 Loretta Lynn • 💿 Back To The Country • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc.  • 🗓 1975

Loretta Lynn, “The Pill”: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 No. 21 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, cottonbro, Darkmoon_Art,  TheDigitalArtist, inna mikitas, Isabela Catão, Jonathan Nenemann, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, Tazz Vaughn, UMG Recordings, Inc., Victoria Borodinova, zzzvector]