Oh Sweet Lorraine

Album: Single Release Only (2013)
Charted: 42
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This features the Peoria, Illinois-based Green Shoe Studio CEO/producer Colgan Jacob Colgan and Fred Stobaugh, who penned the song. 96-year-old Stobaugh wrote "Lorraine" for his wife of 72 years, who died in April 2013. "Well, after she passed away," he recalled in the song's official documentary video , "I was just sitting in the front room one evening by myself. It just [came] to me. I kept humming it. It just seemed like it fit her."
  • Stobaugh entered his tune in a songwriting contest that Green Shoe studio was running. Colgan remembered receiving his letter. "What made Fred's entry so special was instead of a video, it was a large manila envelope titled Green Shoe Studio Singer Songwriter contest. It's an online contest. People [were] supposed to upload their videos," he said. "But, we received a manila envelope. Lo and behold, it was a letter from a 96-year-old man who said, 'I've written a song for my [late] wife.'"

    Colgan added: "I started to read the lyrics and was so touched by the song and without even meeting Fred we thought, we're going to do something."
  • According to Colgan, Fred joked in his letter about his inability to sing. "On the actual envelope itself, it says ' P.S. I don't sing, I would scare people, haha,'" said the Green Shoe Studio CEO.
  • The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #42, making Stobaugh the oldest-most credited artist to appear on the chart. He overtook Tony Bennett, who was 85 years and two months old when "Body and Soul" with Amy Winehouse, spent a week on the survey in 2011.

    Fred Stobaugh's record was broken in March 2024 when Ariana Grande's "Ordinary Things" featuring her 98-year-old gran, Marjorie "Nonna" Grande, debuted at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.