Tanya Tucker, Would You Lay With Me | Controversial Songs

In the 10th edition of Controversial Songs (2025), we explore the controversy behind “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” by Tanya Tucker.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 10^th edition of Controversial Songs (2025), we explore the controversy behind “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” by Tanya Tucker.

“Would you lay with me in a field of stone / If my needs were strong, would you lay with me,” Grammy-winning country musician Tanya Tucker sings in “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)”.  She continues, asking him, “Should my lips grow dry, would you wet them, dear / In the midnight hour, if my lips were dry.” “Would You Lay With Me” is the opening track from her 1974 album, also named Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone). David Allan Coe penned this love song, and would later record it himself, and Billy Sherrill produced it.  “Would” impacted the pop charts modestly, reaching number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It topped the country music charts, unsurprisingly. Tucker earned her second career Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.  She had stiff competition at the 17^th Annual Grammy Awards, including Dolly Parton for “Jolene”.  It wasn’t Parton that beat her, though – it was Anne Murray ( “Love Song”).

So, why is “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” considered controversial? The song felt ‘mature’ for a then teenage country singer.  That is the controversy. Tucker was 15 years old when the song was released as a single in 1973.  While the lyrics are not explicit by today’s standards at all, a sexual relationship is implied. The innuendo is loud and clear, particularly the lyrics excerpted above.  Arguably, the relationship aspects of the song feel premature for someone as young as Tucker.  “Will you bathe with me in the stream of life / When the moon is full, will you bathe with me?” she asks, continuing, “Will you still love me, when I’m down and out / In my time of trial will you stand by me.” Those lyrics confirm what Tucker states Coe’s song was intended to be about: wedding vows.  Controversy, or minor controversy aside, Tucker sounds marvelous on “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)”.  Her voice is beautiful, distinct, and – wait for it – more mature than most 15-year-olds.  Backed by a stunning musical backdrop with country cues and sweet orchestrations, Tucker ‘ate this one up.’

Tanya Tucker // Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone) // Sony Music Entertainment // 1974

Tanya Tucker, Would You Lay With Me: Controversial Songs No. 10 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; Andrea Mosti from Pexels; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay; christian buehner on Unsplash]