Husbands and Wives (song)
| "Husbands and Wives" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Husbands and Wives" is a single written and recorded by American country music singer Roger Miller. Miller's original, from his album Words and Music, was released in 1966 and was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top Ten on the U.S. country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the pop charts. Since the release of Miller's original, the song has been covered by several other artists, including a duet between David Frizzell and Shelly West, as well as Brooks & Dunn, whose version was a Number One country hit in 1998.
Content
"Husbands and Wives" is a mid-tempo waltz in the key of F major. In it, the narrator makes observations on a couple who is breaking up ("Two broken hearts, lonely, looking like houses / Where nobody lives"). He then suggests that the relationship is strained because those involved have too much pride in themselves ("It's my belief pride is the chief cause in the decline / In the number of husbands and wives").
Roger Miller version
Roger Miller recorded the song in 1966 for his album Words and Music,[1] releasing it as the album's first single. It was a crossover hit for him, reaching Top 5 on the country and Adult Contemporary charts, as well as Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chart positions
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 26 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 14 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 10 |
David Frizzell and Shelly West version
| "Husbands and Wives" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
David Frizzell and Shelly West covered the song on their 1981 duets album Carryin' On the Family Names, and released it as the album's third and final single. Their version reached the Top 20 on the country singles chart.
Chart positions
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 38 |
Brooks & Dunn version
| "Husbands and Wives" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "How Long Gone" |
Country music duo Brooks & Dunn covered the song on their 1998 album If You See Her. Featuring lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn,[2] their version was the album's third single, reaching the top of the country singles charts in December 1998. It was also a Top 40 pop hit, peaking at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chart positions
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 36 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
References
- ^ Chadbourne, Eugene. "Words and Music review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
- ^ Pendragon, Jana. "If You See Her review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
Other covers
Neil Diamond covered the song on his 1971 album Stones, as did Ringo Starr on his 1974 album Goodnight Vienna. Raul Malo, former lead singer for The Mavericks, also recorded it on his 2007 album After Hours.