About the song
Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” is a groundbreaking country music classic that challenged traditional gender roles and paved the way for female country artists. Released in 1952, the song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Country & Western chart, making Wells the first female country singer to top the charts with a song she wrote herself.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a woman who has been forced into a life of sin due to her husband’s infidelity. Wells’ powerful vocals deliver the lyrics with a sense of defiance and resilience, challenging the societal expectations placed on women at the time.
One of the song’s most memorable aspects is its iconic chorus, which boldly declares, “It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels, it was you men who put us there.” The chorus is a powerful statement of empowerment, challenging the notion that women are solely responsible for their own downfall.
The song’s production is simple yet effective, with Wells’ vocals and the acoustic guitar providing the primary accompaniment. The arrangement allows the lyrics and Wells’ powerful performance to take center stage, creating a raw and intimate atmosphere.
“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” is a landmark recording that has had a profound impact on country music. The song’s message of empowerment and its challenge to traditional gender roles have made it a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences today. Wells’ groundbreaking achievement paved the way for future generations of female country artists, and her legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.
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Lyrics
As I sit here tonight, the jukebox’s playing
The tune about the wild side of life
As I listen to the words you are saying
It brings mem’ries when I was a trusting wife
It was’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 was’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