"Changed the Locks"
Single by Lucinda Williams
from the album Lucinda Williams
B-side"Goin' Back Home"
Released1989
GenreBlues, Folk, World, Country
Length3:39
LabelRough Trade
Songwriter(s)Lucinda Williams
Producer(s)
Lucinda Williams singles chronology
"Happy Woman Blues/I Lost It"
(1981) 		"Changed the Locks"
(1989) 		"The Night's Too Long"
(1989)
"Change the Locks"
Single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
from the album Songs and Music from "She's the One"
Released1996
GenreRock
Length4:56
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Lucinda Williams
Producer(s)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers singles chronology
"Walls (Circus)"
(1996) 		"Change the Locks"
(1996) 		"Free Girl Now"
(1999)

"Changed the Locks" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. It was released in 1989 as the first single from her third album, Lucinda Williams (1988).

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers covered the song on the soundtrack album Songs and Music from "She's the One" (1996),[1] and it reached No. 20 on the Mainstream Rock chart.[2]

Critical reception

Country music website Holler listed "Changed the Locks" as No. 3 of the best Lucinda Williams songs; "Over the course of this slow burner from her self-titled release, Lucinda rises from the depths of debilitation of abuse to finally face her offender. With surmounting strength, the artist reclaims her power with every boot-stomping verse. Contagious rock tones spur solidarity for listeners who have struggled to take the steps detailed throughout the anthem."[3] LA Weekly ranked it at No. 11 on their list of Williams' best 11 songs, calling it "one of her most hard hitting numbers", writing "Her sneering vocal performance fits the song's ill-tempered mood."[4] NPR described it as a "barn burner",[5] while music website Return of Rock ranked it No. 1 on their list of Williams' 12 songs.[6]

Track listing

7" single[7]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers version

AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers version an "excellent cover, performed with affection and vigor."[8]

Track listing

CD single[9]

Chart performance

Williams version

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard Hard Rock Digital Song Sales[10] 16

Petty version

Chart (1996) Peak
position
US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart[2] 20

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Songs and Music From "She's the One"". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Tom Petty Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Crone, Madeline. "The Best Lucinda Williams Songs". Holler. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Smyers, Darryl (20 September 2013). "Lucinda Williams' Best 11 Songs". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  5. ^ Powers, Ann (April 24, 2020). "Lucinda Williams: A Guide To Her Best Songs". NPR. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Lucinda Williams Songs Ranked". Return of Rock. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Discogs (1989). "Lucinda Williams – Changed the Locks - 7" single". Discogs. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  8. ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Songs and Music From "She's the One" – Album Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  9. ^ Discogs (1996). "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Changed the Locks - CD single". Discogs. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Lucinda Williams Chart History: Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2018.

External links

Lucinda Williams
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Categories