A Country Legend Reunites: Loretta Lynn & Elvis Costello’s Final Duet from the Cash Cabin Sessions
Introduction
In a heartwarming chapter of country music history, Loretta Lynn and Elvis Costello came together in 2007 to create two unforgettable songs—“I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came” and “Everything It Takes.” Their collaboration, recorded at the legendary Cash Cabin Studio in Tennessee, brought together two very different yet deeply passionate voices in music. What resulted wasn’t just a duet, but a blend of storytelling, tradition, and unexpected chemistry that fans still talk about today.
Background
At the time of their collaboration, Loretta Lynn was entering a reflective and creative period in her career. With her daughter Patsy Lynn Russell and John Carter Cash (son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash) co-producing, she began working on what would become the Full Circle album. It was her first studio album in over a decade. Set against the backdrop of the Cash Cabin—a studio rich with history and country legacy—Lynn was inspired to revisit old songs and write new ones that spoke to life, loss, and resilience.
Elvis Costello, the British-born rocker with a soft spot for Americana, had long admired Loretta Lynn. Their paths crossed, and despite their contrasting styles—Lynn with her country grit, Costello with his poetic edge—they found common ground in the music. Costello co-wrote “I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came” with Lynn, a song that would later appear on his own album. But the real gem was “Everything It Takes,” a no-nonsense “woman song,” as Loretta called it, that became their final duet.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
I love you more than she ever will
But the only way she can get a man is steal
I don’t know if I should tell you this or not
She’s got everything it takes to take everything you’ve gotAnd when she takes you, she’s taking everything that I’ve got too
She’s had a million old flames, so to her, you’re nothin’ new
She’s cold as ice, but you still think she’s hot
She’s got everything it takes to take everything you’ve gotShe turned you on and then you turned on me
I’m more of a woman than she’ll ever be
To me, she ain’t nothin’, but to her, that’s a lot
She’s got everything it takes to take everything you’ve gotAnd when she takes you, she’s taking everything that I’ve got too
She’s had a million old flames, so to her, you’re nothing new
She’s cold as ice, but you still think she’s hot
She’s got everything it takes to take everything you’ve gotShe’s got everything it takes to take everything you’ve got
What Makes This Song Famous
✨ A Bridge Between Generations: Loretta was 83 years old when she recorded “Everything It Takes,” proving that great music knows no age. Elvis Costello brought in a modern lyrical twist while honoring Lynn’s classic sound, making the song resonate with both longtime fans and younger listeners.
📝 Written in 30 Minutes: Loretta famously wrote the song in just half an hour. She started with the title—something she always used as her creative anchor—and the words quickly flowed. It’s a shining example of her instinctive songwriting gift.
🎤 Raw, Relatable Lyrics: “She’s got everything it takes to take everything you’ve got” is a powerful line that cuts to the core. The song tells a story of betrayal and jealousy from a sharp, female point of view—something Loretta had built her career on.
🎶 A Studio Full of Legacy: Recorded in Johnny Cash’s home studio, the track carries the weight of country music history. Surrounded by vintage instruments and old ghosts, the energy of the room made its way into the music.
Their duet stands as a poignant farewell—one that showcases mutual respect, musical curiosity, and timeless talent.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
… Well, there’s a difference in the way that you kissed meAnd there’s a sadness in your eyes that you can’t hideWhy do you tremble when I hold you?I wonder if you feel the sameI felt the chill, before the winter came… But it’s easy to say that I won’t give in againI was just tempted for a moment and then someBut it’s so easy when you love, to lose to controlNow look here if you willAt the faithful man you stole… I felt the chill, before the winter cameI suffered the guilt and then accepted the blameI wanted you before you ever spoke my nameBut I knew that we would go wrongJust as they do in all in those old tragic songsDid that melody haunt your mind?Just like a linger of perfumeNow you’re in someone else’s arms,Locked up in another room… Is there’s a difference in the way that he loves youIs there still sadness in your eyes, you can’t deny?Do you tremble and sigh when he holds you just like I do?What were you thinking of, to throw away our love?… And it’s easy to say that you won’t give in againYou were just tempted for a moment and halfBut it’s so hard when you desire to lose controlI don’t know what this feeling is, but it sure seems cold… I felt the chill before the winter cameI suffered the pain and then accepted the shameI will have lost your love by end of this sad refrain?I felt the cold, creeping over my skinStill as the air, until the wind rushed inStill in control, holding on to my heart and soulOnly inches from sin