About The Song
“Ready for the Times to Get Better” is a soulful country ballad by Crystal Gayle, released in December 1977 as the lead single from her United Artists Records album Crystal. Written by Allen Reynolds, it became Gayle’s fourth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, holding the top spot for one week in February 1978, and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. The 2:24 track, with its hopeful yet weary plea—“I’m ready, so ready / For the times to get better”—captures a longing for brighter days amid personal struggle. Gayle’s crystalline vocals, described by Billboard as “pure and evocative,” deliver the song with understated grace. She told American Songwriter in 2016, “Allen’s song felt like a prayer for me, like I was singing my own heart’s wish.” Its crossover appeal, blending country with soft rock, made it a radio staple, earning heavy rotation in the UK and Canada, where it hit No. 4 on the RPM Country Tracks chart.
Recorded in 1977 at Jack’s Tracks Recording Studio in Nashville, the track was produced by Allen Reynolds, with a tight ensemble: Gene Chrisman on drums, Joe Allen on bass, Charles Cochran on piano, and Chris Leuzinger and Billy Sanford on guitars, per Discogs. The minimalist arrangement—gentle acoustic guitar, subtle strings, and a soft rhythm—highlights Gayle’s voice, as AllMusic notes: “It’s a masterclass in restraint, letting the melody breathe.” The album Crystal reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 54 on the Billboard 200. The song’s C-G-Am chord progression and “I’m ready to leave the dark behind” refrain, per Chordify, gave it emotional depth and singalong appeal. A 1980 re-recording for These Days and a 2007 live version with the Austin City Limits band kept it fresh, per Spotify.
Crystal Gayle, born Brenda Gail Webb on January 9, 1951, in Paintsville, Kentucky, and younger sister of Loretta Lynn, rose from teen performances with Lynn’s show to a 1970s country-pop star. Known for hits like “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (No. 1 Country, 1977), she won a 1978 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Wikipedia details her crossover success, with 18 No. 1 country hits and a 2017 Country Music Hall of Fame induction. “Ready for the Times to Get Better” was a live favorite, performed at her 1978 Grand Ole Opry shows and a 1980 BBC concert, with a YouTube clip showcasing her flowing hair and serene delivery. Covers include a 1976 demo by Allen Reynolds and versions by The Whites (1980) and Alan Jackson (2008), per SecondHandSongs. Reddit fans on r/country call it “a balm for tough times.”
The song appeared in no major films but thrives on streaming platforms, with Shazam users tagging it for its soothing vibe. No controversies surround it—just Gayle’s gentle optimism, as CMT notes: “It’s Crystal at her purest, singing hope into the darkness.” Still active at 74, Gayle’s legacy shines through this track, a timeless wish for better days that resonates across generations.
Video
Lyric
I’ve got to tell you I’ve been rackin’ my brain
Hopin’ to find a way out
I’ve had enough of this continual rain
Changes are comin’ no doubtI’m ready, so ready
For the times to get better
I’m ready to leave the dark behind
I’m ready, so ready
For the times to get better
I’m ready to see the sun shineIt’s been a long time since I’ve laughed with my friends
Shared all the dreams that we had
I’m so tired of feelin’ my life’s at an end
I’m prayin’ for good times insteadI’m ready, so ready
For the times to get better
I’m ready to leave the dark behind
I’m ready, so ready
For the times to get better
I’m ready to see the sun shineI’m ready, so ready
For the times to get better
I’m ready to leave the dark behind
I’m ready, so ready
For the times to get better
I’m ready to see the sun shine
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