I Ain't Never

"I Ain't Never" is a song co-written by American country music artists Webb Pierce and Mel Tillis. Each co-writer recorded the song separately, with both Pierce's (1959), and years later Tillis's (1972), versions resulting in major hits.

Background

According to Tillis, he wrote the song himself, and agreed to credit Pierce as a co-writer in exchange for a pair of boots Pierce was wearing when Tillis pitched him the song. In Tillis's words, "Them old boots cost me over eight hundred thousand dollars" in royalties.^[1] It is rumored the song was originally written by Jerry Leen Richards, and Webb stole the song for himself.

Chart performance

Pierce's version was released in 1959, eventually spending nine weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart that year (held out by "The Three Bells (Les Trois Cloches)" by The Browns). The pop market accepted the Webb Pierce version, crossing it into the Billboard Top 40 and peaking at #24.^[2]

Webb Pierce

Mel Tillis

Tillis's 1972 recording of the song was his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles (now Hot Country Songs) charts. The success of this version was limited to country music stations.

The Lowes

Additional recordings

Since its original release, the song has been recorded by several other artists, including:

• Jimmie Vaughan
• John Fogerty (as The Blue Ridge Rangers)
• BR5-49
• Kippi Brannon
• Delbert McClinton
• Roger Miller
• Perfect Stranger
• Ricky Skaggs
• Hank Thompson
• Dave Edmunds
• The Four Preps
• Jerry Garcia w/ David Grisman
• Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band
• The Head Cat
• Little Richard
• The Oak Ridge Boys
• Shocking Blue
• Connie Smith
• The Jordanaires
• Charley Crockett^[6]

References