Fancy Lyrics

As Reba McEntire’s signature hit, “Fancy” is a song that always gets fans singing along to the lyrics live in concert!

Fancy Lyrics:
I remember it all very well lookin’ back
It was the summer I turned eighteen
We lived in a one room, rundown shack
On the outskirts of New Orleans
We didn’t have money for food or rent
To say the least we were hard pressed
Then mama spent every last penny we had
To buy me a dancin’ dress

Mama washed and combed and curled my hair
And she painted my eyes and lips then I stepped into a satin
Dancin dress that had a split on the side clean up to my hip
It was red velvet trim and it fit me good
Standin’ back from the lookin’ glass
There stood a woman where a half-grown kid had stood

She said here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down

Mama dabbed a little bit of perfume on my neck
And she kissed my cheek
Then I saw the tears wellin’ up in her troubled eyes
When she started to speak
She looked at a pitiful shack
And then she looked at me and took a ragged breath
She said your pa’s run off and I’m real sick
And the baby’s gonna starve to death

She handed me a heart-shaped locket that said
To thine own self be true
And I shivered as I watched a roach crawl across
The tow of my high heel shoe
It sounded like somebody else that was talkin’
Askin’ mama what do I do
She said just be nice to the gentlemen fancy
And they’ll be nice to you

She said here’s your chance fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down
Lord forgive me for what I do, but if you want out
Well it’s up to you
Now don’t let me down you better start movin’ uptown

Well, that was the last time I saw my ma
The night I left that rickety shack
The welfare people came and took the baby
Mama died and I ain’t been back

But the wheels of fate had started to turn
And for me there was no way out
And it wasn’t very long till I knew exactly
What my mama’s been talkin about

I knew what I had to do but I made myself this solemn vow
That I’s gonna be a lady someday
Though I don’t know when or how
I couldn’t see spending the rest of my life
With my head hung down in shame you know
I might have been born just plain white trash
But fancy was my name

Here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down

It wasn’t very long after a benevolent man
Took me off the street
And one week later I was pourin’ his tea
In a five room hotel suite

I charmed a king, a congressman
And an occasional aristocrat
Then I got me a Georgia mansion
In an elegant New York townhouse flat
And I ain’t done bad

Now in this world theres a lot of self-righteous hypocrites
That would call me bad
And criticize mama for turning me out
No matter how little we had

But though I ain’t had to worry ‘bout nothin’
For nigh on fifteen years
I can still hear the desperation in my poor
Mama’s voice ringin’ in my ear

She said, here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down
Here’s your one chance fancy don’t let me down
Lord, forgive me for what I do
But if you want out well it’s up to you
Now don’t let me down
Your mama’s gonna help you uptown

I guess she did

Fancy: About the Song
Originally written and performed by Bobbie Gentry in 1969, “Fancy” told the tale of a mother and daughter stricken by poverty. The daughter recalls how her mother pushed her into prostitution as a way to gain financial independence. Eventually making a better life for herself without resorting to prostitution, the character – referred to as “Fancy” – finally makes peace with her mother and understands why she forced her daughter into that way of life.

Fancy: Reba’s Rendition
Country’s favorite redhead, Reba McEntire, covered Gentry’s song “Fancy” in 1991. Released off of her Rumor Has It album, “Fancy” by Reba McEntire soared to No. 8 on the Billboard Country chart and has since become one of Reba’s signature songs. With the single and supporting music video enjoying plenty of airplay, fans could not wait to buy Reba McEntire tickets to hear the ultimate story-song “Fancy” performed live.

Fancy: Hit Song in Concert
Over the years, fans with Reba McEntire tickets have heard “Fancy” during the encore. Reba has been known to don a ragged black mink coat and matching hat during the first half of the song. For the second half of the song, Reba sheds the coat to reveal a red “dancin’ dress.” With Reba McEntire tickets, fans are sure to hear the classic Reba McEntire cover performed live in concert even to this day. With a limited number of tour dates – including a RodeoHouston stint –scheduled in 2009, be sure to buy your premium Reba McEntire tickets from OnlineTickets.com today!