About The Song
Reba McEntire’s “Fancy”: A Country Music Anthem
Reba McEntire’s “Fancy” is a country music classic released in 1990 on her album “Rumor Has It.” The song tells the story of a young woman named Fancy, who escapes poverty through a wealthy suitor despite her mother’s disapproval.
Origins and Inspiration:
- “Fancy” is a cover of a 1970s song originally written and performed by Bobbie Gentry.
- McEntire heard the song in the early 1980s and felt it resonated with her own experiences growing up poor.
Story and Themes:
- The lyrics portray Fancy’s journey from a life of hardship to wealth and luxury.
- Her mother, a hard-working woman, warns Fancy against pursuing a life of comfort built on superficiality.
- The song explores themes of social mobility, class differences, family conflict, and the pursuit of a better life.
McEntire’s Impact:
- McEntire’s powerful vocals and emotional delivery breathed new life into the song.
- The song became a major hit, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart.
- “Fancy” established McEntire as a superstar in the country music scene.
Legacy:
- “Fancy” remains one of McEntire’s signature songs and a beloved country classic.
- The song’s themes continue to resonate with listeners, sparking discussions about ambition, family, and societal expectations.
- It has been covered by numerous artists and featured in movies and television shows.
Here are some additional resources you might find interesting:
- Listen to the song: You can find “Fancy” by Reba McEntire on various music streaming services or watch music videos on YouTube: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppEfGIGVteo (This might be a different version, you can search for the specific song by Reba McEntire).
- Original version by Bobbie Gentry: While there isn’t a dedicated Wikipedia page for the song itself, you can find information about Bobbie Gentry on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbie_Gentry
- Read more about Reba McEntire’s career: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reba_McEntire
Video
Lyrics
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
I remember it all very well lookin’ back
It was the summer I turned eighteen
We lived in a one-room, run-down shack
On the outskirts of New Orleans
We didn’t have money for food or rent
To say the least we were hard-pressed
Then mama spent every last penny we had
To buy me a dancin’ dress
Mama washed and combed and curled my hair
And she painted my eyes and lips
Then I stepped into a satin dancin’ dress
That had a split on the side clean up to my hips
It was red velvet trim and it fit me good
Standin’ back from the lookin’ glass
There stood a woman where a half-grown kid had stood
She said, “Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down”
Mama dabbed a little bit of perfume on my neck, then she kissed my cheek
And then I saw the tears wellin’ up in her troubled eyes when she started to speak
She looked at her pitiful shack
And then she looked at me and took a ragged breath
She said, “Your pa’s runned off, I’m real sick
And the baby’s gonna starve to death”
She handed me a heart-shaped locket that said
“To thine own self be true.”
And I shivered as I watched a roach crawl across
The toe of my high-heeled shoe
It sounded like somebody else that was talkin’
Askin’, “Mama, what do I do?”
She said, “Just be nice to the gentlemen, Fancy
And they’ll be nice to you.”
She said, “Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down
Lord, forgive me for what I do
But if you want out, well, it’s up to you
Now don’t let me down
Now your mama’s gonna move you uptown”
Well, that was the last time I saw my ma
The night I left that rickety shack
The welfare people came and took the baby
Mama died and I ain’t been back
But the wheels of fate had started to turn
And for me there was no way out
It wasn’t very long ’til I knew exactly
What my mama’d been talkin’ about
I knew what I had to do and I made myself this solemn vow
That I’s gonna be a lady someday
Though I didn’t know when or how
But I couldn’t see spending the rest of my life
With my head hung down in shame
You know I might have been born just plain white trash
But Fancy was my name
She said, “Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down”
She said, “Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down”
It wasn’t long after that benevolent man took me in off the street
And one week later I was pourin’ his tea in a five-room hotel suite (yes, she was)
I charmed a king, a congressman and an occasional aristocrat
And then I got me a Georgia mansion and an elegant New York townhouse flat
And I ain’t done bad (she ain’t been bad)
Now in this world, there’s a lot of self-righteous hypocrites
That would call me bad
They criticize my mama for turning me out
No matter how little we had
But though I ain’t had to worry ’bout nothin’ for now on fifteen years
Well, I can still hear the desperation in my poor mama’s voice ringin’ in my ears
“Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down”
She said, “Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down
Lord, forgive me for what I do
But if you want out, well, it’s up to you
Now don’t let me down
Now your Mama’s gonna move you uptown”
Well, I guess she did
