Loretta Lynn, one of country music’s most loved voices, had a career that spanned over six decades. Even in her later years, she never lost her passion for writing and singing. While working on what would become her 45th studio album, Wouldn’t It Be Great, Loretta went through some very tough times. In May 2017, she suffered a stroke at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It was a serious health scare that forced her to delay the release of the album she had been excited to share.
She had been putting her heart into the project and was looking forward to finishing it, but her stroke meant she needed time to recover. Then, in early 2018, just when she was starting to feel better, she fell and broke her hip. That accident set her back again, and the album had to be postponed a second time.
In a 2018 interview, Loretta shared how difficult that year had been. “Before my stroke last year, I had been working hard on a new album and was so excited about it,” she said. “This new record means so much to me, but this last year I had to focus on my health and decided to hold up the release. It’s been a tough year, but I’m feelin’ good now and look forward to it comin’ out.”
By the summer of 2018, Loretta had started filming music videos at her ranch in Tennessee. She was feeling strong again and ready to share her music with the world. Wouldn’t It Be Great was finally released in September 2018. The album’s title came from a song she had recorded 25 years earlier with Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette for their group project, Honky Tonk Angels.
One of the standout tracks on the album is a song called “Ain’t No Time to Go.” It’s one of those songs that really touches the heart. Even though the music has a light, toe-tapping bluegrass sound, the lyrics are deep and emotional. Loretta sings about not being ready to say goodbye to life. She lists all the little things that keep her holding on—spring coming soon, the fields that still need work, the children who need her, and her husband’s memory. The song is full of love, strength, and honesty.
Here are a few lines from “Ain’t No Time to Go”:
Spring is just around the bend
Ain’t no time to go, darlin’
Fields need plowin’ and the fences mend
Ain’t no time to go, darlin’
Stay with me a little bit longer
Stay with me, if you can
Stay with me a little bit longer
Ain’t no time to go, darlin’
Loretta co-wrote this song with her daughter, Patsy Lynn Russell, who also helped produce the album. Patsy had been working closely with her mother for years. She started co-writing and co-producing her albums in 2016 and continued doing so through Loretta’s final album, Still Woman Enough, which came out in 2021. Patsy teamed up with John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, to help bring these later albums to life.
“She’s a producer and a songwriter,” Loretta once said about Patsy, “and helps keep so much of my world running.” Their close relationship made the music even more personal and real. You could hear the love and understanding between mother and daughter in every track.
In addition to “Ain’t No Time to Go,” Loretta and Patsy also worked on other songs for Wouldn’t It Be Great, including “These Ole Blue,” a nostalgic tune that looks back on days gone by. But perhaps the most emotional song on the album is the title track itself.
Loretta revealed that Wouldn’t It Be Great was the last song she ever sang to her husband, Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn, before he passed away in 1996. That moment stayed with her for the rest of her life. The song, written with so much love and longing, became even more meaningful with time. It reminded her of their life together, the good times and the hard times, and the deep bond they shared.
Loretta passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 90. But even near the end of her life, she never stopped writing. In her own words, songwriting became even more important to her as she got older. “It’s my life. And I write about my life,” she said. “I’m in every song I’ve written.”
That’s what made Loretta Lynn so special. She didn’t just sing songs—she lived them. Her music told the story of her journey, from growing up poor in Kentucky to becoming one of the most respected voices in country music. She wrote about real things—love, family, struggle, and faith. People connected with her because she was honest and real, never afraid to speak her mind or show her heart.
With Wouldn’t It Be Great, Loretta gave her fans one more gift. Even while battling health problems, she kept creating. Her voice may have grown softer with time, but her spirit never faded. Through songs like “Ain’t No Time to Go,” she reminded everyone that even in hard times, there’s always something worth holding on for—whether it’s a new season, the sound of children laughing, or the love of family.
Loretta Lynn’s legacy lives on in her songs, her words, and the hearts of those who listened. She showed the world that no matter what life throws your way, you can keep going—and even in your final chapters, you can still sing.
