It was the year 2000. Low-rise jeans were everywhere, and basically everyone was obsessed with a movie about a bar where the bartenders danced on the counter and doused people with water. Coyote Ugly wasn't exactly a critical darling, but it became a cult classic for a reason. At the center of that reason—besides the boots and the fire—was a song that seemed to play on a loop for about eighteen months straight. I’m talking about Coyote Ugly But I Do Love You, or more accurately, the Diane Warren-penned anthem "But I Do Love You" performed by LeAnn Rimes.
You probably remember the scene. Piper Perabo’s character, Violet Sanford, is struggling to find her voice as a songwriter in New York City. The movie is a bit of a fever dream, looking back. It’s gritty but polished, sort of like the song itself. While "Can’t Fight the Moonlight" was the massive, chart-topping behemoth from the soundtrack, "But I Do Love You" was the emotional anchor. It’s the song that represented the "dream" part of the story, not just the "dancing on bars" part.
Honestly, the way people search for this song today is fascinating. Half the time, people just type Coyote Ugly But I Do Love You into Google because they can’t remember if the song name is the movie title or if the movie title is the song. It’s a messy search intent for a messy, beautiful era of pop culture.
The Diane Warren Magic Touch
You can’t talk about this track without talking about Diane Warren. She is arguably the most successful songwriter you’ve never seen on a stage. She’s the woman behind "I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing" and "If I Could Turn Back Time." When Jerry Bruckheimer—the legendary producer behind Coyote Ugly—needed songs that felt like instant hits, he called Diane.
She wrote four songs for the movie. Four!
"But I Do Love You" is a masterclass in the "power ballad lite" genre. It’s got that acoustic-driven, early-2000s country-pop crossover vibe that LeAnn Rimes was perfecting at the time. Rimes was in a weird spot in her career then. She was transitioning from the "Blue" prodigy into a full-blown pop star. Providing the singing voice for Violet Sanford was a genius move. It allowed Rimes to be the voice of the movie without having to actually lead the film, though she does make that iconic cameo at the end.
Why the Song Actually Works
Listen to the lyrics again. They’re simple. Almost too simple? "I don't like to fly, and I don't like to swim." It’s a list of dislikes that leads to a singular like. It’s a classic songwriting trope. But in the context of Coyote Ugly But I Do Love You, it hits a specific nostalgic nerve. It represents that specific moment in your early 20s when everything is scary and you hate half the things you’re doing, but you’ve found that one thing (or person) that makes it bearable.
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The production is very of its time. You have that crisp acoustic guitar and the layered harmonies that scream Trevor Horn (who produced the soundtrack). It’s clean. It’s radio-ready. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to pack a bag and move to a walk-up apartment in the East Village, even though you know you can't afford it.
The Piper Perabo vs. LeAnn Rimes Paradox
Here is a fun fact that people often forget: Piper Perabo isn't singing. Most people know this now, but in 2000, there was a lot of "Wait, is that her?" Rimes provided all the vocals for Violet's songs. This creates a weird meta-experience when you watch the movie now. You see Piper’s face, but you hear that unmistakable, soulful Rimes belt. It’s a bit like the Milli Vanilli of the 21st century, but, you know, legal and intentional.
The Cultural Footprint of the Soundtrack
The Coyote Ugly soundtrack went triple platinum. That’s three million copies sold in the U.S. alone. In an era where we just stream everything on Spotify, it’s hard to communicate how massive that was. You’d go to a mall, and you’d hear "But I Do Love You" in every Claire's and Limited Too.
It wasn't just a movie tie-in. It was a cultural moment.
The film itself dealt with the "Coyote Ugly" bar—a real place, by the way, founded by Liliana Lovell in 1993—but the music made it feel like a fairy tale. The contrast between the rowdy bar scenes and the soft, vulnerable lyrics of Coyote Ugly But I Do Love You is what gave the movie its heart. Without the songs, it’s just a movie about people getting yelled at for ordering water. With the songs, it’s a story about ambition.
Misconceptions About the Title
A lot of people think the song is called "Coyote Ugly." It’s not. It’s "But I Do Love You."
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The confusion probably stems from the way the soundtrack was marketed. The cover featured the cast leaning over the bar, and the words "Coyote Ugly" were ten times larger than any song title. If you’re looking for the sheet music or trying to find it on a karaoke machine, remember to look for Rimes, not the movie title.
Also, interestingly, the song had two lives. It was a modest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 but actually performed better on the Adult Contemporary charts. It had legs. It lingered. It’s the kind of song that didn’t need to be number one to stay in your head for twenty years.
The "But I Do Love You" Legacy
So, why do we still care? Why am I writing 1500 words about a song from a movie where John Goodman plays a worried dad?
Because the early 2000s are back in a big way. Gen Z has rediscovered the "Bimbo Era" and the "McBling" aesthetic. They’ve embraced the campiness of Coyote Ugly. On TikTok, you see creators using "But I Do Love You" for "Get Ready With Me" videos or nostalgic montages. It’s a "comfort" song. It feels safe.
It also represents a peak moment for female-led soundtracks. Along with 10 Things I Hate About You and Cruel Intentions, Coyote Ugly used its music to define the female gaze of the era. It wasn't just background noise; it was the script.
Technical Details for the Nerds
If you’re a musician, the song is interesting because of its structure. It’s a standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus setup, but the key change—or rather the lift in the final chorus—is classic Diane Warren. It builds. It starts small and intimate and ends up feeling like a stadium anthem.
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The vocal range required isn't insane, but the tone is hard to mimic. Rimes has this specific "twang-meets-pop" resonance that is incredibly difficult to replicate without sounding like you’re trying too hard.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’ve got a sudden urge to revisit this era, don’t just watch the movie on a loop. There’s more to it.
- Check out the Remixes: There are some early 2000s dance remixes of "But I Do Love You" that are absolute time capsules of the Eurodance era. They’re ridiculous and amazing.
- Read the Original Article: The movie was actually based on an article by Elizabeth Gilbert (who later wrote Eat Pray Love). It’s called "The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon," published in GQ. It’s way grittier than the movie.
- The Soundtrack Deep Dive: Don’t stop at the Rimes tracks. The soundtrack includes stuff by Blondie and The Righteous Brothers. It’s a weirdly curated mix that actually works.
- Visit the Real Bar: The original Coyote Ugly Saloon is still in New York City on East 12th Street. It’s not exactly like the movie—don’t expect a choreographed LeAnn Rimes performance—but the vibe is still there.
The reality is that Coyote Ugly But I Do Love You isn't just a song title mix-up. It's a shorthand for a specific kind of nostalgia. It's about that feeling of being young, broke, and absolutely certain that a single song could change your life. Maybe it didn't change yours, but it definitely changed the 2000s.
If you're building a "Nostalgia" playlist, this track belongs right between Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" and Michelle Branch's "Everywhere." It's the "earnest pop" trifecta. And honestly? I still love it.
To get the most out of your Coyote Ugly deep dive, start by listening to the "But I Do Love You" (Almighty Mix) for a high-energy version, then compare the movie's portrayal of the bar to Elizabeth Gilbert's original GQ piece to see how much Hollywood polished the reality. Finally, look up the live performance LeAnn Rimes did at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards to see just how much of a powerhouse she was at the peak of the movie's success.