Seven Year Ache (song)

"Seven Year Ache"
Single by Rosanne Cash
from the album Seven Year Ache
B-side	"Blue Moon with Heartache" "Rainin'" (international)
Released	February 1981
Recorded	1980
Genre	Country pop[1]
Length	3:15
Label	Columbia Ariola (international)
Songwriter(s)	Rosanne Cash
Producer(s)	Rodney Crowell
Rosanne Cash singles chronology
"Take Me, Take Me" (1980) "Seven Year Ache" (1981) "My Baby Thinks He's a Train" (1981)

"Seven Year Ache" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Rosanne Cash. It was released in February 1981 as the first single and title track from Cash's album of the same name. The song was Cash's first of ten No. 1 hits on the US Country charts and also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts.

Critical reception

In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #73 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.^[2]

Commercial performance

"Seven Year Ache" was Cash's fourth single and her first single released in 1981. Considered her breakthrough recording, the song was Cash's first No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart, while also crossing over to the Billboard Pop Chart, reaching No. 22. It was also a Top 10 Adult contemporary hit, cresting at No. 6.

The single was issued on Cash's second studio album, Seven Year Ache that year, which also produced the No. 1 hits "My Baby Thinks He's a Train" and "Blue Moon with Heartache."^[3]

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[5]	22
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[6]	6
Canadian RPM Country Singles	6

Year-end chart (1981)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[7]	97

Notable cover versions

"Seven Year Ache" has been recorded several times. American country artist Trisha Yearwood recorded a version for her 2001 album Inside Out that featured Cash herself singing background vocals.^[8]

References

1. Molanphy, Chris (November 5, 2020). "Friends in Low Places Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
2. "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
3. Ankeny, Jason. "Rosanne Cash > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
4. "Rosanne Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
5. "Rosanne Cash Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
6. "Rosanne Cash Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
7. "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
8. Konicki Dinoia, Maria. "Inside Out > Overview". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-06-08.