How Cold Hearted Can You Get
Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys Lyrics

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While you're honky-tonkin' 'round
All you do is run me down
Now we're parted
How cold hearted can you get?

You're tellin' all your friends
What a rascal I have been
Now we're parted

How cold hearted can you get?

I remember back when I was
Tall hog at the trough
Now my money's gone
And you have really fluffed me off

You're giving me the blame
You ought to hang your head in shame
Now we're parted
How cold hearted can you get?

Now gal, I can't forget
How you got me deep in debt
Now we're parted
How cold hearted can you get?

You said as you slammed the door
I was square as a four by four
Now we're parted
How cold hearted can you get?

You called me every thing you could
From a dummy to a dope
I know that you'd be satisfied
If I took strychnine and croaked

When I say that you'll regret
You just puff that cigarette
Now we're parted
How cold hearted can you get?

All the lies you've told on me
You'll regret someday
When Saint Peter says
"Now gal, just go the other way"

Now I guess you'll say to him
It was all my fault again
Now we're parted
How cold hearted can you get?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of How Cold Hearted Can You Get by Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys is about a man's ex-girlfriend who is spreading rumors and talking poorly about him around town. The song elaborates on how the woman took advantage of him and left him without any money. The singer expresses his anger and disbelief towards the woman who has betrayed him, and seems to be asking how someone can be so heartless.

The first verse explains how the woman, while out drinking and having fun, is running down her ex, exposing her cold heart. The singer is in disbelief and questioning how someone can treat another person this way, especially after being romantic partners. The second verse continues with the singer expressing his anger, saying that the woman is telling all her friends lies about him, illustrating how low she can go.

The third verse talks about the singer's past and how he used to be successful in the past, but now he has lost all his money because of her. The verse also has some self-pity as the singer remembers his previous glory days. The fourth verse continues with the accusations and blames the woman for his current situation.

The chorus repeats the song's central question, i.e., how cold hearted can you get. The song's final verse portrays the singer's frustration escalating as the woman calls him names and suggests he kills himself. The singer warns the woman that she will regret everything one day, and when that happens, she'll have nobody to blame but herself.

Line by Line Meaning

While you're honky-tonkin' 'round
While you're out partying

All you do is run me down
You keep criticizing me

Now we're parted
We have broken up

How cold hearted can you get?
You are being very heartless

You're tellin' all your friends
You're bad-mouthing me to everyone

What a rascal I have been
You are portraying me as a bad person

I remember back when I was
I recall the time when I was

Tall hog at the trough
Rich and successful

Now my money's gone
I am now broke

And you have really fluffed me off
You have abandoned me

You're giving me the blame
You are accusing me of wrongdoing