I Ain't Never
"I Ain't Never" is a song co-written by American country music artists Webb Pierce and Mel Tillis. Each co-writer recorded the song separately, with Pierce's 1959 recording and Tillis's 1972 version were both major country hits.
Background
According to Tillis, he wrote the song himself, and agreed to credit Pierce as a co-writer in exchange for a pair of boots Pierce was wearing when Tillis pitched him the song. In Tillis's words, "Them old boots cost me over eight hundred thousand dollars" in royalties.Chart performance
Pierce's version was released in 1959, eventually spending nine weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart that year. The pop market accepted the Webb Pierce version, crossing it into the Billboard Top 40 and peaking at #24.Webb Pierce
Mel Tillis
Tillis's 1972 recording of the song was his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. The success of the 1972 version was limited to country music stations.| Chart | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
The Lowes
Additional recordings
Since its original release, the song has been recorded by several other artists, including the following:- Webb Pierce
- Jimmie Vaughan
- John Fogerty
- BR5-49
- Kippi Brannon
- Delbert McClinton
- Roger Miller
- Perfect Stranger
- Ricky Skaggs
- Hank Thompson
- Dave Edmunds
- The Four Preps
- Jerry Garcia w/ David Grisman
- Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band
- The Head Cat
- Little Richard
- The Oak Ridge Boys
- Shocking Blue
- Connie Smith
- The Jordanaires
- Charley Crockett