I'll Just Call You Darling

Loretta Lynn · Mr. And Mrs. Used To Be (Ernest Tubbs & Loretta Lynn) [1965]

(Johnny Colmus)

I'll just call you darling

And I'll call you the same

And if we ever cry out in the night

We won't call each other's name.

I'm afraid that I'm falling and I'm falling too

But we both belong to others we're not free

I know I'll dream about you but if you'll call my name

We'll both hurt someone who shouldn't be.

So I'll just call you darling

And I'll call you the same

And if we ever cry out in the night

We won't call each other's name.

--- Instrumental ---

I didn't mean for it to happen

And we can't turn back time

But it just happened we can't help it now

I have no right to hurt her

And he's still in love with me

Why we're the ones who broke our wedding vows.

So I'll just call you darling

And I'll call you the same

And if we ever cry out in the night

We won't call each other's name...

I'll Just Call You Darling

Loretta Lynn's 1965 recording of "I'll Just Call You Darling" stands as a poignant example of her mastery of the country ballad. Delivered with her signature gravelly voice and emotional depth, the track captures the raw vulnerability of a woman navigating heartbreak and the complexities of long-distance relationships. Featured on the album Mr. And Mrs. Used To Be, the song exemplifies Lynn's ability to weave personal narrative into universal themes of longing and resilience. The recording showcases her transition into a solo powerhouse, blending traditional folk storytelling with the polished production of the mid-1960s Nashville sound. As a staple of her discography, the song remains a testament to her enduring influence on the genre and her status as a voice for the working woman.