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"Does My Ring Burn Your Finger"
Single by Lee Ann Womack
from the album I Hope You Dance
B-side	"Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good"
Released	October 29, 2001
Genre	Appalachian neotraditional country bluegrass
Length	3:30 (album version) 3:17 (radio edit)
Label	MCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)	Julie Miller Buddy Miller
Producer(s)	Frank Liddell
Lee Ann Womack singles chronology
"Why They Call It Falling" (2001) "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" (2001) "Something Worth Leaving Behind" (2002)

"Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" is a song written by husband and wife duo Julie and Buddy Miller. It was originally recorded by Buddy on his third studio album Cruel Moon, released in 1999. American country music artist Lee Ann Womack took an interest in the song and recorded her own version for her third studio album I Hope You Dance (2000). Her version features backing vocals by the Millers. The song would be officially released on October 29, 2001, as the fourth and final single from the album via MCA Nashville Records.

The least successful single from the album, it peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Content

The song is performed in the key of B major. The Daily Gazette says the song "takes the listener on a harrowing journey through love that is pain, mostly; but also sometimes, and surprisingly, brings joy."

During the making of I Hope You Dance, Womack listened to music outside of Nashville, which led her to recording songs by Texas country artists like Rodney Crowell, Bruce Robison, and Buddy and Julie Miller, of which Womack would record this song.

Critical reception

For Buddy's version, Peter Applebome of The New York Times called "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" his quintessential song. The Daily Gazette said, "the writing is deceptive, plain-spoken but sophisticated, and it takes immense control and restraint to make music this multi-layered sound so backwoods simple."

Chuck Taylor of Billboard called Womack's rendition of the song "a haunting hillbilly treatise on the pain of betrayal and loss" that "adds up to a vibrant record that both fans and programmers should find impossible to ignore." Blue Suede News gave the track a positive review, calling it a "great song" that brings an "earthy edge to an already edgy subject." Ken Barnes of USA Today listed the song as the number one single of 2001 and wrote, " A searing, chill-conjuring performance of a seething Buddy and Julie Miller tune by country's reigning female vocalist."

Chart performance

"Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart the week of November 10, 2001.

Track listing

US vinyl single

1. "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" (J. Miller, B. Miller) – 3:27
2. "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" (Dave Hanner) – 2:54

Personnel

Credits adapted from I Hope You Dance liner notes.

• Sam Bacco — percussion
• Richard Bennett — bouzouki
• Chad Cromwell — drums
• Larry Franklin — fiddle
• Paul Franklin — pedal steel guitar
• Kenny Greenberg — electric guitar
• Buddy Miller — backing vocals
• Julie Miller — backing vocals
• Jeff Roach — electric piano
• Lee Ann Womack — lead vocals
• Glenn Worf — bass

Live performances

Womack performed the song on The Today Show on August 18, 2001. She would notably perform the song at the 2001 CMA Awards.

Charts

References

1. "Going for Adds: Country". Radio & Records. No. 1425. October 26, 2001. p. 66.
2. Cruel Moon (album liner notes). Buddy Miller. Hightone Records. 1999. HCD 8111
3. Sullivan, Denise (2001). Rip it Up!: Rock & Roll Rulebreakers. Backbeat Books. p. 86. ISBN 9780879306359.
4. Miller, Julie. ""Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" Sheet Music". Musicnotes. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
5. ^ Hochanadel, Michael (December 24, 1999). "Diverse list of albums add up to great last-minute Christmas gifts". The Daily Gazette. p. D6.
6. Jinkins, Shirley (November 6, 2001). "Lee Ann Womack Diversifies". Lakeland Ledger, republished from Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. D7.
7. "Is Alt. the Next Big Thing?". Lakeland Ledger, republished from the New York Times. May 1, 2000. p. D5.
8. Taylor, Chuck. Billboard Lee Ann Womack (November 3, 2001)
9. Blue Suede News: Volumes 46-53. Blue Suede News. 1999.
10. Barnes, Ken. USA Today Singling out the year's high, low notes (December 27, 2001)
11. Does My Ring Burn Your Finger (US 7" vinyl single liner notes). Lee Ann Womack. MCA Nashville Records. 2001. 0881722207.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. Womack, Lee Ann (2000). I Hope You Dance (US CD album liner notes). MCA Nashville. 088 170 099-2.
13. The Today Show (August 18, 2001).
14. Gilbert, Calvin (October 26, 2001). "On With the Show". Radio & Records. No. 1425. p. 60.
15. "Lee Ann Womack Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
16. "R&R Country Top 50". Radio & Records. No. 1440. February 15, 2002. p. 86.
17. "Most-Played Country Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 36.
18. "Top 100 of 2002: Country". Radio & Records. No. 1483. December 13, 2002. p. 63.

• 2001 singles
• 2000 songs
• Lee Ann Womack songs
• MCA Nashville Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Frank Liddell