Album: 42 Ultimate Hits (1977)

Charted: 1 5

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• In a bar in Toledo across from the depot
  On a barstool, she took off her ring
  I thought I'd get closer so I walked on over
  I sat down and asked her name
  When the drinks finally hit her she said, I'm no quitter
  But I finally quit livin' on dreams
  I'm hungry for laughter and here ever after
  I'm after whatever the other life brings
  In the mirror, I saw him and I closely watched him
  I thought how he looked out of place
  He came to the woman who sat there beside me
  He had a strange look on his face
  The big hands were calloused, he looked like a mountain
  For a minute I thought I was dead
  But he started shaking, his big heart was breaking
  He turned to the woman and said
  
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
  With four hungry children and a crop in the field
  I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
  But this time your hurting won't heal
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
  
  After he left us, I ordered more whiskey
  I thought how she'd made him look small
  From the lights of the barroom
  To a rented hotel room
  We walked without talking at all
  She was a beauty but when she came to me
  She must have thought I'd lost my mind
  I couldn't hold her 'cause the words that he told her
  Kept coming back time after time
  
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
  With four hungry children and a crop in the field
  I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
  But this time your hurting won't heal
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
  
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
  With four hungry children and a crop in the field
  I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
  But this time your hurting won't heal
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
  You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille Writer/s: Hal Bynum, Roger Bowling
  Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

• Sandra Jones from TnWe knew Roger Bowling, the co-author of this song before he ever left Florida to head to Nashville. He tried to get my husband to go with him. Just hate he passed away.
• Randy from Houghton Lake, MiWhen this song came out my sister in law thought he said "with four hundred children and a crop in the field."
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI liked this song, but I also liked a parody that included the line, "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille...just brought in a gusher out there in the field."
• William Okabp Achol from Lira,ugandaThe most moving song on women undependability by a most brilliant artist. This song endures and Kenny lives through it.
• C.g. Dee from Big D, Texas, UsaI've been reading about KR, who died, age 81, March 20, 2020. Songfacts, like VH1 of yore's Behind the Music, really gets into the backdrop of songs and the industry. To struggling artists of any variety, Kenny is worth one researched and well sourced bio. He paid some dues, folks. RIP, old man of song and stage.
• C.g. Dee from Big D, Texas, UsaA very good tune by which to have started part 2 of a very long career, Geico commercials or no Geico commercials. You picked a fine song to sing there, Big K. With millions of listeners and some stoned out DJs. Been listening to it for 43 years. Slapped me over the head hard in early March, 2020.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaKate the lyrics are four hungry children, not 400. She would have left a long time ago before the number got that high. Or else have shot her hubby.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaDave, you are like me, after I heard about DW singing that version after he had won a race because someone's wheel came off the car.
• Randy from Houghton Lake, MiMy sister in law thought he said "with four hundred children and a crop in the field"
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 17th 1977, Kenny Rogers performed "Lucille" on the NBC-TV program 'The Midnight Special'...
  Three months earlier on March 20th, 1977 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on June 12th it peaked at #5 (for 2 weeks) and spent 19 weeks on the Top 100...
  And on March 27th, 1977 it reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
  It also peaked at #1 (for 1 week) on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart (also reached #1 on the Canadian Country chart)...
  Between 1976 and 2005 as a solo artist he had thirty-two Top 100 records; eight made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Lady" (for 6 weeks in 1980) and "Islands In The Streams" (for 2 weeks in 1983, a duet with Dolly Parton)...
  Mr. Rogers will celebrate his 76th birthday this coming August 21st, 2014.
• Jim from Raleigh, NcHard to imagine. She really could have picked a better time. Right after harvest, for instance.
• Dave from Cullman, AlI sing a version of the chorus everytime I see a wheel come off a race-car at an inopportune time--"You picked a fine time to leave me, loose wheel..."
  :-D
• Kate from Perth, Australianot to mention their four hundred children
• Jim from Raleigh, NcHow could any woman leave a man when he has crops in the field?

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