One’s On The Way – Loretta Lynn (Live)

Loretta Lynn “One’s On The Way” on The David Frost Show

“One’s On the Way” by Loretta Lynn is a witty, sharp, and socially observant country song that captures the chaos, exhaustion, and unglamorous reality of a housewife and mother in 1970s Middle America. Written by Shel Silverstein and released by Lynn in 1971, the song became one of her signature hits, standing out not just for its humor but for its bold commentary on gender roles, motherhood, and societal expectations.

Set in Topeka, Kansas, the lyrics follow a woman who is juggling daily life with multiple children while another baby is “on the way.” Amid diaper changes, dirty dishes, and domestic drudgery, she hears about glamorous celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Raquel Welch on the radio—women who seem to live carefree lives full of beauty and excitement. In contrast, the narrator’s life is consumed by the demands of her family and her pregnancy, highlighting the gap between fantasy and reality for many women.

The song is notable for its satirical tone and conversational delivery. Loretta Lynn’s performance adds authenticity, as she sings from the perspective of a woman who knows this life firsthand. Even as the song makes the listener laugh with its candid humor—mentioning birth control pills, politicians, and chaos in the bathroom—it’s also a pointed reminder of the burdens many women bore in silence.

“One’s On the Way” remains a powerful piece of feminist country music—not because it lectures, but because it speaks truth with cleverness and heart. Lynn helped bring women’s domestic struggles into mainstream conversation at a time when few country songs dared to be so honest or political.