Honky Tonk
D.Parton Lyrics
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The song about the wild side of life
As I listen to the words that you are sayin'
It brings memories when I was a trusted wife
It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men
And have 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 wasn'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
And have cause many a good girl to go wrong
In Dolly Parton's song "Honky Tonk," the singer is heartbroken over a lost love and seeks solace in the comforting sounds of honky-tonk music. She asks the bartender to pour her a very strong drink and to point out a cowboy who might want to dance. She also requests that the bartender make sure she gets home if she becomes too intoxicated to take care of herself. The singer relates to the sad songs on the jukebox, especially those by Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and George Jones. However, she wonders why more women don't sing honky-tonk songs about heartache and tough breaks.
The singer suggests that honky-tonk music speaks to the pain and suffering of women who have been hurt by men. She asks why more women don't sing these songs, given the number of women who have been wronged in love. She notes that honky-tonk angels are "just queens without thrones" and that we should not judge others until we have walked in their shoes. The final chorus is a call to all lonely women to sing honky-tonk songs about their experiences.
"Honky Tonk" is a poignant reflection on the emotional power of music and the healing potential of shared experience. It also raises important questions about the role of women in country music and the representation of female experience in popular culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Bartender won't you pour me a very strong drink
I need a drink so strong that it makes me forget my pain
Just keep it coming till I don't have to think
I want to drink until I reach oblivion and forget everything that's causing me pain
And point out some cowboy that might want to dance
I want to distract myself from my heartbreak by dancing with a cowboy
And make sure I get home if you see that I can't
I might get too drunk to make it home, so please make sure I'm safe
You see I loved him, he left me for a girl half my age
I am heartbroken because the man I loved left me for a younger woman
I relate to each sad song that ole jukebox has played
The sad songs played by the jukebox resonate with my experience and emotions
I listen to Haggard, ole Hank, and George Jones
I find solace in listening to the songs of these revered country singers
Why don't more women sing honky tonk songs?
I wonder why there aren't more women who sing about heartbreak and tough experiences in honky tonk music
Honky tonk angels are just queens without thrones
Women who sing honky tonk songs are like royalty who don't have a proper place to sit on their throne
Judge not lest you be judged, who can cast the first stone
Let's not judge others because we ourselves are not perfect
All you lonely women sing
This is a call to all the women who are feeling lonely to join in singing honky tonk songs
And all the men that's done us wrong
We want to sing about the men who have hurt us
There's a whole lotta women I know would sing along
Many women would join in singing honky tonk songs if given the chance
Why don't more women sing honky tonk songs
This line is repeated to emphasize the frustration and curiosity about the lack of women who sing honky tonk songs
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joseph D. Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind