The Wild Side of Life

Hank Thompson

About The Wild Side of Life

"The Wild Side of Life" is a song made famous by country music singer Hank Thompson. Originally released in 1952, the song became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country charts, solidified Thompson's status as a country music superstar and inspired the answer song, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" by Kitty Wells.


Year:
2006
2:57
49 

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

You wouldn't read my letter if I wrote you
You asked me not to call you on the phone
But there's something I'm wanting to tell you
So I wrote it in the words of this song

I didn't know God made Honky Tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
You gave up the only one that ever loved you
And went back to the wild side of life

The glamor of the gay nightlife has lured you
To the places where the wine and liquor flow
Where you wait to be anybody's baby
And forget the truest love you'll ever know know

I didn't know God made Honky Tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
You gave up the only one that ever loved you
And went back to the wild side of life

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Hank Thompson

Henry William Thompson (September 3, 1925 – November 6, 2007), known professionally as Hank Thompson, was an American country music entertainer whose career spanned seven decades. more »

2 fans

Written by: Buddy Guy

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Date
"The Wild Side of Life" by Hank Thompson was released in 1952 and became one of his most popular hits.
Chart Performance
The song was a major hit and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, where it remained for 15 weeks.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists over the years, including Tom Petty, Rod Stewart, and Freddy Fender.
Cultural Impact
"The Wild Side of Life" is recognized as one of the classic honky-tonk songs, often associated with traditional country music.
Answer Song
The song is famous for its "answer" song titled "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," recorded by Kitty Wells. This song was an answer from the female perspective to the themes of Thompson's hit.
Song's Theme
The song tells the story of a man who loses his woman to the nightlife and blames the allure of the bar scene and the wild side of life.
Songwriters
The song was written by Arlie Carter and William Warren, making it one of the iconic pieces of the 1950s country genre.
Album Appearance
One of the earliest album appearances of this song was on Hank Thompson's 1955 album titled "Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys."
Live Performances
Thompson often performed this song live, and it became a staple at his concerts, usually receiving the most applause from the audience.
Critical Recognition
"The Wild Side of Life" is often cited by critics as one of the greatest country songs of all-time. It was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2016.

Discuss the The Wild Side of Life Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Wild Side of Life Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8769516/Hank+Thompson/The+Wild+Side+of+Life>.

    Missing lyrics by Hank Thompson?

    Know any other songs by Hank Thompson? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    The Wild Side of Life

    67,225
    696     13

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Who featured who in "Laugh Now Cry Later"?
    A Lil Mosey ft. No Cap
    B Beyonce ft. Olivia Rodrigo
    C Fancy ft. Rihana
    D Drake ft. Lil Durk

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Hank Thompson tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!