It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

Kitty Wells

About It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" is a 1952 country song written by J. D. "Jay" Miller, and originally recorded by Kitty Wells. It was an answer song to the Hank Thompson hit "The Wild Side of Life." The song — which blamed unfaithful men for creating unfaithful women — became the first No. 1 Billboard country hit for a solo female artist. In addition to helping establish Wells as country music's first major female star, "It Wasn't God..." paved the way for other female artists, particularly Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, and songs where women call out unfaithful men. It was preserved by the National Recording Registry in 2007. 


Year:
2012
2:31
69 
#1

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As I sit here tonight, the jukebox playin'
The tune about the wild side of life
As I listen to the words you are sayin'
It brings memories when I was a trustful wife

It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
Think they're still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong

It's a shame that all the blame is on us women
It's not true that only you men feel the same
From the start
Most every heart that's ever broken
Was because there always was a man to blame

It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
Think they're still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong

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Kitty Wells

Ellen Muriel Deason (August 30, 1919 – July 16, 2012), known professionally as Kitty Wells, was an American country music singer. Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star. Her Top 10 hits continued until the mid-1960s, inspiring a long list of female country singers who came to prominence in the 1960s. more »

3 fans

Written by: JOSEPH D. MILLER

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Identity
"It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" is a classic country song released in 1952 that has been covered by many artists, including Dolly Parton, Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, and Patsy Cline.
Original Artist - Kitty Wells
The song was originally recorded and made famous by Kitty Wells. It was her response to the song "The Wild Side of Life" by Hank Thompson and was one of the first songs to openly address double standards faced by women.
Groundbreaking Song
It was the first No. 1 Billboard country hit for a solo female artist, thereby breaking down barriers for other female country artists.
Dolly Parton’s Version
Dolly Parton, a known country music legend, included her rendition of the song on her 1993 album "Slow Dancing with the Moon".
Loretta Lynn's Rendition
Loretta Lynn, another iconic country singer, performed her version of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" on her 1966 album "You Ain't Woman Enough", reinforcing the song’s message of female empowerment in her own style.
Patsy Cline and Honky Tonk Angels
Although Patsy Cline is often associated with this song, there are no official records of her covering this tune. However, her powerful voice and position as a country music trailblazer place her in close connection with the sentiments expressed in the song.
Song’s Controversy
The song was considered controversial because it challenged the accepted norms of its time. It was banned from NBC's "Grand Ole Opry" for several months.
Songwriters
The song was written by J.D. Miller, and it sparked a series of answer songs, both from male and female perspective, contributing to its enduring legacy.
Impact on Female Country Artists
It paved the way for a more feminist discourse in country music, allowing female artists like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn to openly express their viewpoints through their music.
Place in Country Music History
The legacy of "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" establishes it as one of the most important songs in the history of country music. This anthem of female resilience and defiance changed the trajectory of the genre, making room for women's voices to be heard more loudly and clearly.

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