Loretta Lynn's most Groundbreaking Songs

After the passing of the great Loretta Lynn, tributes have continued to pour in. While she was the image of country music to most, she was also a prolific songwriter that would define her generation. Lynn wrote about the aspects of life people were too afraid to sing about. Many of her songs touched on topics like alcoholism, cheating, drug issues, and standing up for what is right. Here are some of the most groundbreaking songs in Lynn's expansive discography.

1. "The Pill"

"The Pill" was a song about birth control released in the 1970s. That's enough for this song to be way ahead of its time. The track rings of liberation with lines, "This chicken's done tore up her nest / And I'm ready to make a deal / And ya can't afford to turn it down / 'Cause you know I've got the pill." It may sound dramatic, but this tune changed country music.

2. "You're The Reason Our Kids Our Ugly"

Despite the straight-to-the-point title, this fun and playful tune acts like a conversation between a husband and a wife. Sung with frequent music partner Conway Twitty, Lynn shares her grievances with the man in her life as she shares, "You're the reason I never get to go to the beauty shop" and "Conway, why in the devil don't you gon' / And shave an' put on a clean pair of pants?"

3. "Another Man Loved Me Last Night"

Loretta Lynn admits to her sins in "Another Man Loved Me Last Night." She speaks candidly about cheating on her current lover with lyrics, "While he's sleepin', well, I'm cryin' here awake / Not being loved was more than I could take / Though it was wrong there in his arms it seemed so right / When another man loved me last night." This kind of vulnerability is what made Lynn so special and universally loved.

4. "You Ain't Woman Enough"

This tune paved the way for songs like "Better Than Revenge" by Taylor Swift and "Misery Business" by Paramore. The original mad girl anthem, "You Ain't Woman Enough" is sassy and fun to listen to. "Women like you they're a dime a dozen, you can buy 'em anywhere / For you to get to him I'd have to move over / And I'm gonna stand right here."

5. "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)"

Just like in the lyrical content of "The Pill," Lynn speaks on hard-to-talk-about issues once again in "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)." She sings of her husband's alcohol abuse and how it's affecting her: "No, don't come home a drinkin' with lovin' on your mind / Just stay out there on the town and see what you can find / 'Cause if you want that kind of love, well, you don't need none of mine / So don't come home a drinkin' with lovin' on your mind." This topic is usually brushed under the rug but Lynn had no problem sharing her thoughts.

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