By the late '50s Bonnie was recording on the Mar-Vel label with Fuzzy and his band, the Sun Valley Playboys. She cut a well-received duet album with Fuzzy, her sometime boyfriend, on Tally Records, which would later be re-released on Capitol Records as "Just Between the Two of Us." In 1961, Bonnie saw Haggard singing for the first time at a Lefty Frizzell concert. At the time, Haggard was just a few months out of San Quentin prison for breaking and entering. By 1964 Fuzzy was managing Haggard and suggested that Bonnie and Haggard re-record "Just Between the Two of Us." Taking Fuzzy's advice paid off; the song hit the top of the country charts but not for long. It was replaced by "(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers," Haggard's breakthrough single.
In 1965 Haggard signed with Capitol Records, married Bonnie, and signed the Strangers (including Bonnie) with a booking agency owned in part by Buck. Bonnie's marriage to Haggard lasted until 1978, but the two had already separated in 1975. Eventually Bonnie resumed touring with the Strangers in the late '70s and remarried for the final time to Fred McMillenher. She continued to tour regularly with Haggard and the Strangers. While Bonnie released half a dozen albums and numerous singles on Capitol Records in the mid- to late '60s, she remained satisfied singing backup as a member of the Strangers.
Don't Tell Me
Bonnie Owens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let your passion disillusion you
Don't tell me you'll be true because you know I know you won't
Just one love is not enough for you
I'd be a fool to think that I could trust you all the time
But still I'm fool enough to love you and your wanderin' mind
When you're with me makes me believe that your love for me is true
Don't tell me that you love me
Don't tell me that you love me
Just one love is not enough for you just one love is not enough for you
In Bonnie Owens's song "Don't Tell Me," she speaks from the perspective of someone who has been hurt and deceived by a lover. The lyrics caution against empty promises of love and fidelity when actions prove otherwise. Bonnie speaks to the frustration and confusion of wanting to trust someone but knowing deep down that they cannot be trusted. She acknowledges her own vulnerability in loving someone who cannot commit to just one person, recognizing that being with them comes with the risk of heartache and disappointment. In the end, the lyrics are a plea to be honest and not to play games with someone's heart.
The song was released in 1965 and was written by Owens herself, along with Merle Haggard and Fuzzy Owen. The message of the song resonated with audiences and it became a top 30 hit on the country music charts. Owens is often noted for her ability to convey emotion in her songs, and "Don't Tell Me" is no exception. The raw honesty of the lyrics coupled with her powerful voice make for a haunting and powerful song.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't tell me that you love me when you know I know you don't
Don't try to deceive me by saying you love me when I am aware that you do not feel that way.
Don't let your passion disillusion you
Do not let your strong emotions confuse you or make you believe something that is not true.
Don't tell me you'll be true because you know I know you won't
Do not make a false commitment to me as I am aware that you will not keep it.
Just one love is not enough for you
You have a desire to seek love in multiple places and with multiple people.
I'd be a fool to think that I could trust you all the time
It would be unwise to believe that I can always trust you completely.
But still I'm fool enough to love you and your wanderin' mind
Despite knowing your tendency to wander and not settle for one love, I am still foolish enough to love you.
When you're with me makes me believe that your love for me is true
When we are together, I am convinced that you love me sincerely.
And when I'm not around do what you're big enough to do
When I am not present, you are free to do as you please.
Don't tell me that you love me
Do not try to convince me of your love through insincere words.
Just one love is not enough for you just one love is not enough for you
You desire love and attention from multiple sources and one love alone cannot satisfy you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: AVRIL RAMONA LAVIGNE, EVAN DAVID TAUBENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@odinspromise
Bonnie Owens, are you serious? Really? She was gorgeous, her voice was like that of an angel and Buck and Merle were both morons for ever lettin this lady go!
@nedrabradley7837
I agree with you She and Merle were soul mates for life
@anthonybelcher8569
Awesome singer fantastic song 65
@mcgoodle
I wonder if she was staring straight at ol' Merle while she was singing this song. He treated her very badly.