I Ain't Never
"I Ain't Never" is a song co-written by American country music artists Webb Pierce and Mel Tillis. Each co-writer recorded the song separately, with both Pierce's, and years later Tillis's, with both versions resulting in major hits.
Background
According to Tillis, he wrote the song himself, and agreed to credit Pierce as a co-writer in exchange for a pair of boots Pierce was wearing when Tillis pitched him the song. In Tillis's words, "Them old boots cost me over eight hundred thousand dollars" in royalties.Chart performance
Pierce's version was released in 1959, eventually spending nine weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart that year. The pop market accepted the Webb Pierce version, crossing it into the Billboard Top 40 and peaking at #24.Mel Tillis
Tillis's 1972 recording of the song was his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. The success of this version was limited to country music stations.| Chart | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |