Tammy Wynette’s mother gave her the wonderful gift of birth on the 5th of May, 1942. Tammy went on to become a legendary country music champion who fought like hell to get mothers more respect and articulate their needs.
Wynette channeled the spirit of Hank Williams away from the interests of men towards the deep concerns of women as mothers.
Her first number one hit was “I Don’t Wanna Play House”
“I don’t wanna play house; I know it can’t be fun.
I’ve watched mommy and daddy
And if that’s the way it’s done
I don’t wanna play house; It makes my mommy cry
‘Cause when she played house
My daddy said good-bye.”
In D-I-V-O-R-C-E she also wrote of the pain of family break-up:
“I spell out all the hurtin’ words
And turn my head when I speak
‘Cause I can’t spell away this hurt
That’s drippin’ down my cheek.” Another number one hit.
In 1968 she graduated to song writing to co-create perhaps the greatest anthem to monogamous heterosexuality ever written: “Stand By Your Man.” (In the same year, Germaine Greer married for the only time for a few weeks.)
“Stand by your man, give him two arms to cling to
And something warm to come to
When nights are cold and lonely.
Stand by your man, and show the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can.
Stand by your man.”
God Bless Families. (Life is getting harder.)
And God Bless Tammy Wynette
Geoff Fox, Informal Midwife, 5th May, 2023, Down Under
FREEDOM, DEMOKRASI AND CIVILISED HUMANITY 