. Song Information:
Title: The Pill
Artist: Loretta Lynn
Writers: Lorene Allen, Don McHan, T.D. Bayless, Loretta Lynn
Album: Back to the Country
Release Date: March 1975
Genre: Country
Label: MCA Records
Producer: Owen Bradley
“The Pill” is one of Loretta Lynn’s most controversial and groundbreaking songs. Written by a team including Lynn herself, the track was recorded in 1972 but held back by her label until 1975 due to its provocative subject matter. When finally released, it climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and became a crossover hit, peaking at No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.
. Song Content:
“The Pill” is an unapologetically bold anthem that celebrates a woman’s newfound reproductive freedom through the use of birth control. Loretta Lynn delivers the lyrics from the perspective of a housewife who has spent years bearing child after child while her husband enjoys his freedom. But now, thanks to “the pill,” she declares her independence and ability to make choices for herself—especially about her body and future.
The lyrics are delivered with sharp wit and tongue-in-cheek humor: “This old maternity dress I’ve got / Is going in the garbage.” Through playful rhymes and upbeat instrumentation, Lynn masks a deeper feminist message in the language of traditional country music. It was a radical move at a time when discussing birth control was still taboo, especially in the conservative American South.
Lynn’s performance is assertive and proud. She embraces her voice as a mother, a woman, and a wife who is finally taking control of her own destiny. “The Pill” gave countless women the courage to speak up, making it not just a song—but a cultural turning point.
. Explanation of the Song’s Message:
Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill” was revolutionary because it tackled a subject almost no one in country music dared touch: birth control and female autonomy. At the time, women—especially in rural communities—had little access to conversations around reproductive rights. The very idea of a woman celebrating the use of birth control was considered radical, even dangerous, in mainstream media.
What makes “The Pill” so powerful is not just its message, but who it was coming from. Loretta Lynn wasn’t a pop singer trying to stir controversy; she was a mother of six, a coal miner’s daughter, and a respected country star speaking from real-life experience. Her decision to record and release such a bold song challenged not only the music industry but also the cultural norms of the time.
The song’s brilliance lies in its combination of humor and clarity. Loretta wasn’t preaching—she was laughing, teasing, and telling the truth all at once. That’s why it resonated so deeply with women across America. Despite being banned by many radio stations, the song sparked conversations in households, churches, and doctor’s offices, becoming a milestone in both music and the women’s liberation movement.
▶️ Watch the Song on YouTube:
Lyrics
You wined me and dined me when I was your girl
Promised if I’d be your wife, you’d show me the world
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
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
This old maternity dress I’ve got is going in the garbage
The clothes I’m wearing from now on won’t take up so much yardage
Miniskirts, hot pants, and a few little fancy frills
Yeah, I’m making up for all those years since I’ve got the pill
I’m tired of all your crowing how you and your hens play
While holding a couple in my arms, another is on the way
This chicken’s done tore up her nest and I’m ready to make a deal
And you can’t afford to turn it down ’cause you know I’ve got the pill
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