The Legendary Patsy Cline and Her Hit “She’s Got You”

The name Hank Cochran is the name behind the lyrics “She’s Got You”. First recorded in December 1961 and released in 1962, it was a single by Patsy Cline. Musically, it is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it.

The Story of “She’s Got You”

According to Ellis Nassour, writer of Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline, Hank Cochran recalls his conversation with Patsy. He remembers calling Cline and telling her that he had just written her next number 1 hit. She, then, invited him to come over. Over a bottle of liquor, he played it on the guitar for her. Their audience was friend Dottie West who was visiting that afternoon. Cline got emotional because of its lyrics. At that moment, she fell in love with it that she immediately called up her manager and producer. Over the phone, she sang it to them. During her next recording session, she made the cover. This was a rare case as Miss Cline and producer Owen Bradley often opposed each other. However, this time, they both were in agreement that they had a hit.

The song is about material possessions of a lost love:

I’ve got the records that we used to share

And they still sound the same, as when you were here

The only thing different, the only thing new

I’ve got the records … she’s got you

Patsy Cline and Her Successes

“She’s Got You” was a follow-up single to Patsy’s two previous big hits: “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy”. Released on January 30, 1962, “She’s Got You” immediately went to No. 1 on the Hot C&W Sides country chart. Also, it occupied the 14^th spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song went to number three on the Easy Listening chart, as well. “She’s Got You” marked her first hit single in the United Kingdom where it reached No. 43. The said track helped jump-start her career. Later, it later became a classic.

Because of its popularity, the hit led to an appearance on American Bandstand with Dick Clark that February. Apart from that, it gave Cline her own show in Las Vegas in the following November.

A few other minor hits followed “She’s Got You” that year. These included: “Imagine That”, “When I Get Thru’ With You”, “So Wrong”, and “Strange”. On August 6, 1962, Cline’s third album Sentimentally Yours was released. The track “She’s Got You” was a cut in the said album.