“Life Turned Her That Way”, a song written by Harlan Howard, was first recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens for the Columbia label, on September 3, 1964, at Columbia Recording Studio, 804 16th Ave. South, Nashville 3, TN, in the recording session, along with “Life Turned Her That Way”, three more songs (She’s not forgotten yet, Things have gone to pieces and Handle with care) were recorded, in the recording session Jimmy Dickens was accompanied by : Walter Haynes, Wayne Moss, Buddy Emmons, Junior Huskey, Buddy Harman, Shorty Lavender, Buddy Spicher and Hargus Robbins. With the production of Don Law & Frank Jones, the song was released on March 8, 1965. It was only released in single.

The most successful version of “Life Turned Her That Way” was the one recorded by Ricky Van Shelton for the Columbia label, on October 14, 1986, the song was released on December 7, 1987, reaching number # 1 of the US Hot Country Songs charts on March 19, 1988, and remaining a total of 23 weeks in the charts. It also reached # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts on April 2, 1988. The song was included on Ricky Van Shelton’s debut album, Wild-Eyed Dream (Columbia 1987).

Some Versions:

Mel Tillis 1967 (Kapp Records)
George Jones 1967 (Musicor)
Jean Shepard 1967 (Capitol)
Carl Smith 1967 (Columbia)
Conway Twitty 1967 (Decca)
Charley Pride 1967 (RCA)
Johnny Bush 1968 (Stop Records)
Ernest Tubb 1968 (Decca)
Ricky Van Shelton 1987 (Columbia)

Miquel Batlle Garriga
mbatllegarriga@gmail.com

Little Jimmy Dickens – Life Turned Her That Way lyrics

If she seems cold and bitter I beg of you
Just stop and consider all she’s goin’ through
Don’t be quick to condemn her for things she might say
Just remember life turned her that way.

She’s been walked on and stepped on so many times
I hate to admit it but that last footprint’s mine
She was crying when I met her she cries harder today
So don’t blame her life turned her that way.

— Instrumental —

She’s been walked on and stepped on so many times
I hate to admit it but that last footprint’s mine
She was crying when I met her she cries harder today
So don’t blame her life turned her that way…