Single Women

Album: Heartbreak Express (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Country/Blues single continued Dolly Parton's string of Country hits, charting at #8. The song is about lonely women (either single or divorced) who are looking for Mister Right in singles bars, which was not as well established in the South and rural areas as it was in the cities. It doesn't glamorize that life at all, portraying it as desperate and frustrating. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • Michael O'Donoghue, who was a writer for Saturday Night Live, wrote this song for a 1981 sketch based on a singles bar featuring Christine Ebersole.
  • Parton's version was used as the theme song to the 1984 TV movie Single Bars, Single Women, starring Tony Danza, Paul Michael Glaser, and Shelley Hack.
  • After her foray into pop in the late '70s, Dolly wanted to fully embrace her country roots on Heartbreak Express, her 24th solo album, which is exemplified on this honky-tonk ballad.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.