Unveiling the Tale Behind the Timeless Hit:
“Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” by Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty
Crafted by Becki Bluefield and Jim Owen
Dated back to 1973, the musical universe bore witness to the extraordinary partnership between the legendary Loretta Lynn and the iconic Conway Twitty. Their collaboration birthed the sensational hit, “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” but the story behind this masterpiece goes back a few years.
In 1967, the fates aligned when Conway Twitty, an artist hailing from Oklahoma City, crossed paths with Loretta Lynn at Owen Bradley’s renowned recording studio. Twitty, known for his foresight, had a peculiar habit of arriving early for his recording sessions in Nashville. His motive? To mingle with the talented musicians and artists concluding their sessions before him.
One fateful day, Conway stealthily entered the recording studio where Loretta Lynn was putting the finishing touches on her work. Unbeknownst to Lynn, who had expressed a desire to meet Twitty earlier, producer Owen Bradley led Conway right behind her, shrouded in secrecy. Then, with a gentle nudge, Owen reminded Loretta of her wish to meet Conway and instructed her to turn around. The surprise was so profound that Loretta’s reaction mirrored something out of a cartoon – a moment etched in their shared history.
What Conway didn’t realize at that moment was Loretta’s deep admiration for him. Despite not being a rock and roll enthusiast, she had an abiding affection for Twitty’s 1958 chart-topper, “It’s Only Make Believe.” In fact, Loretta even proudly displayed a Conway Twitty poster in her home long before she embarked on her own musical journey.
Fast forward three years, and the idea of recording together took root. However, their decision was met with skepticism and resistance from those in their circle. Observing past collaborations between artists, associates feared that their burgeoning friendship might sour amidst the pressures of the recording studio.
“It made perfect sense to us and Mooney (Loretta’s husband), but nobody else seemed to get it,” Conway shared with Wilbur Cross and Michael Kosser, authors of “The Conway Twitty Story.” “Everyone else was against it,” he continued, “but I was my own boss, and I stood my ground. As for Loretta, she eventually had to put her foot down and declare, ‘We’re doing it, end of discussion.'”
Their intuition ultimately prevailed, and Conway and Loretta went on to claim their first chart-topping duet album with “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” on September 15, 1973. A month earlier, on August 18th, the album’s title track secured its place as their third number-one single.
The credit for recognizing the song’s potential goes to none other than Lynn’s husband, Mooney. While tending to Loretta’s affairs one day, Mooney had the opportunity to listen to a demo of the song. Penned by Jim Owen, who was best known at the time for his remarkable one-man Hank Williams tribute shows, alongside Becki Bluefield, the demo of “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” caught Mooney’s ear. He promptly declared, “Let me hold onto this song. I’ll see if I can get Loretta and Conway to bring it to life.” As it turned out, making that happen was a breeze.
The journey from that serendipitous studio encounter to the recording booth culminated in the creation of a timeless classic that still resonates with music lovers today. “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” stands as a testament to the magic that can happen when two remarkable talents come together, overcoming all odds and naysayers to leave an indelible mark on the world of music.
Album: Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
Artists: Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty
Released: 1973
Lyrics
Hey, Louisiana woman, Mississippi man
We’ll get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
See the alligator all a-waitin’ nearby
Sooner or later they know I’m gonna try
When she wave from the bank don’t you know I know
It’s a goodbye fishin’ line, see you while I go
With a Louisiana woman waitin’ on the other side
The Mississippi River don’t look so wide
Louisiana woman, Mississippi man
We’ll get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Well, I thought I’d been loved but I never had
‘Til I was wrapped in the arms of a Mississippi man
When he holds me close it feels almost
Like another hurricane just a-ripped the coast
If he can’t come to me I’ma gonna go to him
That Mississippi River, Lord, I’m gonna swim
Hey, Louisiana woman, Mississippi man
We’ll get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Well, the Mississippi River, Lord, it’s one mile wide
And I’m gonna get me to the other side
Mississippi man, I’m losin’ my mind
Gotta have your lovin’ one more time
I’m gonna jump in the river and-a here I go
Too bad alligator you swim too slow
Hey, Louisiana woman, Mississippi man
We’ll get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Ah, there’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Hey
Ah, there’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Ah, there’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
Hey
