Kitty Wells – 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 defied the typical stereotype of being submissive to men and putting up with their often unfaithful ways.

Released June 1952 (U.S.)
Recorded May 3, 1952
Castle Studios,
Genre Country
Length 2:38
Label Decca
Songwriter(s) J. D. “Jay” Miller
Producer(s) Paul Cohen

Kitty Wells – It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels Lyrics

[Verse 1]
As I sit here tonight the jukebox playing
The tune about the wild side of life
As I listen to the words you are saying
It brings memories when I was a trusting wife

[Chorus]
It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
There’s many times married men think they’re still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
There’s many times married men think they’re still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong