Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands

"Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" is a song written by Don Goodman, Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy and first recorded by American country music artist Lee Greenwood. It was released in February 1982 as the second single from his album Inside Out. Greenwood's version peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. A cover was released by Reba McEntire in November 1995 as the second single from her album Starting Over. McEntire's version reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in February 1996.^[1]

Song story

The song is about a married couple whose problems foreshadow the wife's decision to have an affair. The lyrics – mainly pronouns – are slightly changed, depending on whether the singer is a male or female.

The song begins with a young couple standing at the altar, promising to be faithful to one another for the rest of their lives. The bride recalls that, as pure as the white in her gown, she stood by her groom's side and vowed to love him until her death.

However, the couple's love life quickly sours, as the husband constantly leaves his wife alone at night; the reason – work, drinking with friends or an affair – is never specified. As the lonely nights begin to mount up, the wife, left to maintain in a three-bedroom home (or prison, as she puts it), observes that the "gold turned cold in (her) wedding band." Eventually, with the need and desire for physical intimacy still very much alive in her, she turns to a stranger to meet her sexual needs ("The arms of a stranger was the only place left to turn").

McEntire's version changes the pronouns to place the song in a female's perspective.^[2]

Chart performance

Lee Greenwood version

Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	5
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	2

Reba McEntire version

Chart (1995–1996)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[3]	14
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[4]	9

References

↑ Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
↑ "Reviews". Billboard 107 (45): 76. November 11, 1995. ISSN 0006-2510.
↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2875." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. February 5, 1996. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
↑ "Reba McEntire – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Reba McEntire.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Lee Greenwood

Studio albums	Inside Out Somebody's Gonna Love You You've Got a Good Love Comin' Meant for Each Other Streamline

Notable singles	"It Turns Me Inside Out" "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" "She's Lying" "Ain't No Trick (It Takes Magic)" "I.O.U." "Somebody's Gonna Love You" "Going, Going, Gone" "Fool's Gold" "God Bless the USA" "You've Got a Good Love Comin'" "Dixie Road" "I Don't Mind the Thorns (If You're the Rose)" "Don't Underestimate My Love for You" "Hearts Aren't Made to Break (They're Made to Love)" "Didn't We" "Mornin' Ride" "Someone" "If There's Any Justice" "Touch and Go Crazy" "I Still Believe" "You Can't Fall in Love When You're Cryin'" "I'll Be Lovin' You" "I Go Crazy" "Holdin' a Good Hand" "We've Got It Made" "Hopelessly Yours" (with Suzy Bogguss)

Collaboration singles	"To Me" (with Barbara Mandrell) "It Should Have Been Love by Now" (with Barbara Mandrell)

Related articles	Discography Capitol Records MCA Records "A Love Song"

Book:Lee Greenwood

Reba McEntire 1990s singles

Sweet Sixteen	"Walk On"

Rumor Has It	"You Lie" "Rumor Has It" "Fancy" "Fallin' Out of Love"

For My Broken Heart	"For My Broken Heart" "Is There Life Out There" "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"

It's Your Call	"Take It Back" "The Heart Won't Lie" (with Vince Gill) "It's Your Call"

Greatest Hits Volume Two	"Does He Love You" (with Linda Davis) "They Asked About You"

Read My Mind	"Why Haven't I Heard from You" "She Thinks His Name Was John" "Till You Love Me" "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" "And Still"

Starting Over	"On My Own" "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands" "Starting Over Again" "You Keep Me Hangin' On"

What If It's You	"The Fear of Being Alone" "How Was I to Know" "I'd Rather Ride Around with You" "What If It's You"

If You See Him	"If You See Him/If You See Her" (with Brooks & Dunn) "Forever Love" "Wrong Night" "Lonely Alone" "One Honest Heart"

So Good Together	"What Do You Say"

Other songs	"If I Had Only Known" "What If"

Guest singles	"Oklahoma Swing" (with Vince Gill) "Let's Open Up Our Hearts"

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, February 15, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.