Unveiling the Tale of Tammy Wynette’s Timeless Classic: “Stand By Your Man”
Tammy Wynette‘s illustrious career is inseparable from her iconic hit, “Stand By Your Man.” This chart-topping gem, which reigned at #1 on Billboard’s country singles chart for three weeks in November 1968, became her second Grammy-winning masterpiece in 1969. In fact, the song was so intertwined with Tammy that it inspired the title of her 1979 biography and a 1981 TV movie where Annette O’Toole portrayed the country music legend.
The genesis of “Stand By Your Man” sprouted from the fertile imagination of Tammy’s producer, Billy Sherrill, who had discovered her and brought her under the Epic Records umbrella two years prior. Carrying the song’s title on a scrap of paper for over a year, Sherrill finally brought it to life during a recording session on August 26, 1968, at Columbia’s Studio B in Nashville. After a quick break following the recording of two songs, Sherrill and Tammy went upstairs to craft another tune to round out the session. Billy proposed “Stand By Your Man,” and Tammy instantly connected with the concept.
As Tammy recalled, “We sat down, and after a couple of lines, it just came to us. It was one of the fastest songs I ever worked on. It was meant to be.”
Surprisingly, the song encountered resistance from feminists upon release, which paradoxically fueled its publicity. In Sherrill’s eyes, “Stand By Your Man” was meant for women who embraced their identity and were secure in it, despite skepticism that the song hinted at chauvinism. He saw it as a way of saying “I love you” without reservations.
“Stand By Your Man” also found its way into Hollywood, featuring prominently in the 1970 film “Five Easy Pieces” starring Jack Nicholson. Even the melody of the song left its mark on Tammy’s life, as it inspired the design of the “burglar bars” on the windows of the home she shared with then-husband George Jones in 1974.
An intriguing twist to the song’s history emerged in 1992 during the presidential campaign when allegations about Bill Clinton’s infidelity surfaced. Hillary Clinton, in her interview on “60 Minutes,” exclaimed, “I’m not some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette!” The irony was that this was precisely what she was doing, a puzzle that left many scratching their heads.
In 2003, “Stand By Your Man” received the ultimate accolade, ranking #1 on the “100 All-Time Greatest Country Songs” list by Country Music Television. Furthermore, Tammy Wynette‘s original 1968 recording earned a place of honor when it was selected by the Library of Congress for induction into its “National Recording Registry” in 2010.
Released: September 20, 1968 (U.S.) / 1975 (U.K.)
Recorded: August 28, 1968
Genre: Country
Length: 2:38
Songwriters: Billy Sherrill, Tammy Wynette
Producer: Billy Sherrill
Lyrics
Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Givin’ all your love to just one man
You’ll have bad times and you’ll have good times
Doin’ things that you don’t understand
But if you love him, you’ll forgive him
Even though he’s hard to understand
A-and if you love him, be proud of him
‘Cause after all he’s just a man
Stand by your man
Give him two are-arms to cling to
And somethin’ warm to come to
When nights are cold and lonely
Stand by your-our ma-a-an
And show the world you love him
Keep givin’ all the love you can
Stand by your-our ma-an
Stand by your-our ma-an
And show the world you love him
Keep givin’ all the love you can
Stand by your-our ma-an
