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]

"Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands"
Single by Lee Greenwood
from the album Inside Out
B-side"Don'cha Hear Me Callin'"
ReleasedFebruary 1982
GenreCountry
Length3:38
LabelMCA 52026
Songwriter(s)Don Goodman
Pam Rose
Mary Ann Kennedy
Producer(s)Jerry Crutchfield
Lee Greenwood singles chronology
"It Turns Me Inside Out"
(1981)		 "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands"
(1982)		 "She's Lying"
(1982)
"Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands"
Single by Reba McEntire
from the album Starting Over
B-side"You Keep Me Hangin' On"
ReleasedNovember 1995
GenreCountry
Length4:10
LabelMCA 55161
Songwriter(s)Don Goodman
Pam Rose
Mary Ann Kennedy
Producer(s)Tony Brown
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire singles chronology
"On My Own"
(1995)		 "Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands"
(1995)		 "Starting Over Again"
(1996)

Content

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
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[3] 5
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2

Reba McEntire version
Chart (1995–1996) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 14
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 9

References
  1. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks
  2. "Reviews". Billboard. 107 (45): 76. November 11, 1995. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. "Lee Greenwood Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  4. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2875." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. February 5, 1996. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  5. "Reba McEntire Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.


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