Billie Jo Spears – Blanket on the Ground

About The Song

“Blanket on the Ground” is a romantic country ballad by Billie Jo Spears, released in February 1975 as the second single and title track from her United Artists Records album. Written by Roger Bowling, the 3:32 track became Spears’ only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, topping it for one week in April 1975 and charting for 17 weeks. It also reached No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 2 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada, per Wikipedia and Billboard. Sung from the perspective of a middle-aged woman coaxing her husband to rekindle their romance under the moonlight, the song’s suggestive line “just because we’re married, don’t mean we can’t slip around” sparked minor controversy, with some mistaking it for “sleep around,” per The Independent. AllMusic praises its “warm, inviting melody,” noting, “Spears’ husky voice makes the song feel both tender and bold.” Spears told The Guardian in 1994, “Producers thought it was too risqué, but I knew it was about love, not cheating.” The song marked a career resurgence for Spears, earning her the 1976 ACM Top New Female Vocalist award.

Recorded in January 1975 at Jack Clement Recording Studio in Nashville, the track was produced by Larry Butler, with session players likely including Harold Bradley (guitar) and Bob Moore (bass), per Discogs. The countrypolitan arrangement—smooth strings, acoustic guitar, and soft percussion—complements Spears’ emotive delivery, aligning with the era’s pop-country crossover trend. Taste of Country calls it “a timeless ode to marital passion, polished yet authentic.” The album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and received a Silver certification in the UK, per BPI. The song’s G-C-D chord progression and catchy refrain, per UltimateGuitar, ensured its radio success. A 2016 remaster on Best of Country Classics and a YouTube upload by Universal Music Group keep it accessible, per Spotify.

Billie Jo Spears (born Billie Jean Moore, January 14, 1937–December 14, 2011), a Beaumont, Texas native, began her career at 13 with “Too Old for Toys, Too Young for Boys” on Abbott Records. After early hits like “Mr. Walker, It’s All Over” (No. 4, 1969), vocal cord surgeries in 1972 and 1974 nearly derailed her, per Billboard. Her 1974 return to United Artists under Butler led to this breakthrough. Wikipedia notes her 23 Top 40 country singles and UK popularity, where she was dubbed the “Queen Mother of Country Music” by Country Music People. “Blanket on the Ground” was performed on Musikladen in 1975, with a signed single given to a fan, per hitparade.ch. Covers include Philomena Begley (1975, No. 1 in Ireland), Wencke Myhre (1977), and Birthe Kjær, per SecondHandSongs. Reddit users on r/country in 2024 called it “a classic with heart,” while an X post by @Missyyy2222 in 2024 described a pub singalong in Edinburgh.

Inspired by 1970s marital dynamics and rural romance, the song resonated amid Nashville’s countrypolitan boom, per No Depression. Its inclusion in the 1978 film Convoy boosted its reach. No major controversies persisted, though initial producer rejections over its perceived “cheating” theme delayed its recording, per Alan Cackett. Shazam users tag its iconic intro, and it thrives on Spotify and Smule karaoke. “Blanket on the Ground” remains Spears’ signature hit, showcasing her resilience and vocal warmth.

Video

Lyric

Come and look out through the window
That big old moon is shining down
Tell me now, don’t it remind you
Of a blanket on the ground

Remember back when love first found us
We’d go slipping out of town
And we’d love beneath the moonlight
On a blanket on the ground

I’ll get the blanket from the bedroom
And we’ll go walking once again
To that spot down by the river
Where our sweet love first began

Just because we’re married
Don’t mean we can’t slip around
So let’s walk out through the moonlight
And lay the blanket on the ground