Righteously (song) explained

Righteously
Cover:File:Righteously_single_cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Lucinda Williams
Album:World Without Tears
Released:2003
Length:4:36
Label:Lost Highway
Prev Title:Get Right With God
Prev Year:2001
Next Title:Are You Alright?
Next Year:2007

"Righteously" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. It was released in 2003 as the first single from her seventh album, World Without Tears (2003).

The song earned Williams a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 2004.[1]

Content

A review of the song from AllMusic stated: "The muck and mire of 'Righteously', with its open six-string squall, is pure rock. It's an exhortation to a lover that he need not prove his manhood by being aloof, but to 'be the man you ought to tenderly/Stand up for me,' Doug Pettibone's overdriven, crunching guitar solo quotes both Duane Allman and Jimi Hendrix near the end of the tune."[2] Robert Hilburn, in his review of World Without Tears for the Los Angeles Times, stated "The tempo picks up on 'Righteously', but the lyrics still speak of the search for some shelter in a stormy relationship. The fiery electric guitar underscores the desperation of the lyrics."[3]

Reception

Country music website The Boot ranked the song No. 7 on their list of the best Lucinda Williams songs, writing "In a sense, 'Righteously' is a sophisticated update of 'Passionate Kisses'. The slow-burning, searing blues riffs convey the main character's stance that she deserves desire and respect (Be the man you ought to tenderly/Stand up for me), and that her man simply needs to love her, not impress her (You don't have to prove/Your manhood to me constantly."[4] Music website Return of Rock ranked it No. 10 on their list of Williams best songs."[5]

Track listing

CD single - US[6]
CD single - Europe[7]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkRecipientResultRef.
2003Americana AwardSong of the Year"Righteously"Lucinda Williams[8]
Grammy AwardBest Female Rock Vocal Performance

Charts

Chart (2003)Peak
position
US Billboard Adult Top 40[9] 36
US Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay8

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Artist: Lucinda Williams . . April 27, 2020 . October 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026174652/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/lucinda-williams/7914 . live.
  2. Web site: Jurek. Thom. World Without Tears – Lucinda Williams. AllMusic. January 21, 2017.
  3. News: Hilburn. Robert. Robert Hilburn. April 6, 2003. Williams is on an exploration for 'World Without Tears'. Los Angeles Times. January 21, 2017.
  4. Web site: Top 10 Lucinda Williams Songs . Zaleski . Annie . January 26, 2022 . The Boot . July 17, 2022.
  5. Web site: Lucinda Williams Songs Ranked. Return of Rock. 20 May 2021 . August 3, 2022. August 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220803164046/https://returnofrock.com/lucinda-williams-songs-ranked/. live.
  6. Web site: Lucinda Williams – Righteously - US single. 29 July 2022 . Discogs. Discogs.
  7. Web site: Lucinda Williams – Righteously - Europe single. 29 July 2022 . Discogs. Discogs.
  8. https://americanamusic.org/awards/2003 Americana Awards - 2003
  9. Lucinda Williams - Chart History. Billboard. 10 February 2018.