“Things a Man Oughta Know” by Lainey Wilson

There has been ample fancy explaining and compelling background offered on the part of Lainey Wilson concerning the meaning of “Things a Man Oughta Know”.

But what it all boils down to, as actually presented in the lyrics, is that “a man oughta know” how to properly treat a lady and more specifically his significant other.

The song starts off a bit more generally, though somewhat oddly with Lainey referring to the skills that she, a female, has developed in life. But her point is that these are things a man should be able to do also, such as “shoot a shotgun” or “change a tire”.

But by the time the chorus rolls around, the cat is let out of the bag, and it becomes more obvious that this piece, maybe not by initial design but at least in terms of how it actually came out, reads like a love song. Or rather, let’s say that it falls into the romantic advice column. 

A major lesson Lainey has learned, not only through experience but also by observation, is that a man letting go of the woman he loves is an act of folly. So reading in between the lines, she is basically advising male listeners not to dumb out by making that same mistake.

Facts about “Things a Man Oughta Know”

This song, which was issued through Broken Bow Records (aka BBR) on 13 September 2019, was the track that put Lainey Wilson on the map.  Prior to this outing, none of her singles appear to have charted. 

But “Things a Man Oughta Know” proceeded to top Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, in addition to reaching fourth place on the Canada Country listing. 

This track also managed to chart in Australia. Furthermore, it broke the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 stateside, in addition to having thus far having been certified gold by the RIAA and platinum via Music Canada.

This track took home Song of the Year honors at the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards. Relatedly, it contributed to Lainey Wilson concurrently being awarded New Female Artist of the Year at the said awards show.

It was one Jason Nix who conceptualized this song, at least in title. And he also proceeded to co-write it with Lainey and Jon Singleton, the latter being a country singer in his own right. 

Meanwhile the track was produced by Jay Joyce, who was also employed to work on Lainey’s follow-up single (to this one), which is 2022’s “Heart Like a Truck“.

This track can be found on Lainey Wilson’s EP “Redneck Hollywood” (2019) in addition to her debut major-label studio album, “Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’” (2021).

The music video to this song was directed by the pairing of Sean O’Halloran and Chris Ashlee, the former of whom is a known friend of Lainey.

Lainey Wilson’s “Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’” Album

“Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’” officially came out on the 19th of February, 2021. It was released after Lainey’s “Tougher” project of 2016, becoming her third studio project to be released throughout her music career and her debut album as far as a major record label was concerned.

“Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’,” consists of 12 tracks with a combined runtime of approximately 38 minutes. The album shares the same title with its 12th track, “Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’”.

This album was recorded at Neon Cross Studios, a recording studio located in Nashville. American record producer Jay Joyce was responsible for the album’s production while a record label based in Nashville, BBR Music Group took charge of its release into the public domain.

Reacting to the album’s success, a number of music critics as well as music publications were quick to shower praises on the American singer, with some even referring to it as one of 2021’s best albums.