"Gonna Get a Life" is a song written by
Jim Lauderdale
James Russell Lauderdale (born April 11, 1957) is an American country, bluegrass, and Americana singer-songwriter. Since 1986, he has released 31 studio albums, including collaborations with artists such as Dr. Ralph Stanley, Buddy Miller, and ...
and Frank Dycus, and recorded by American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
singer
Mark Chesnutt
Mark Nelson Chesnutt (born September 6, 1963) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Between 1990 and 1999, he had his greatest chart success recording for Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA and Decca branches, with a total of ei ...
. It was released in February 1995 as the third single from his album ''
What a Way to Live''. The song became Chesnutt's sixth U.S. Country Music charts Number One in May of that year.
Background and writing
Jim Lauderdale told Taste of Country that he was working at co-writer Frank Dycus' house that day and while taking a break he played a melody that he came up with. Dycus came up with the title and then wrote the rest of the lyrics.
Critical reception
''
Billboard'' magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "spicy mix of country and cajun."
Music video
The music video was directed by Sherman Halsey and premiered in early 1995. It was filmed in
Lafayette, Louisiana. It features Chesnutt performing the song in concert, in a treehouse, and at a cajun party surrounded by various people.
Chart performance
"Gonna Get a Life" debuted at number 68 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of February 25, 1995.
Year-end charts
References
1995 singles
1994 songs
Mark Chesnutt songs
Songs written by Jim Lauderdale
Decca Records singles
Music videos directed by Sherman Halsey
Song recordings produced by Mark Wright (record producer)
Songs written by Frank Dycus
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