Wells' success in the 1950s and 1960s was so enormous that she still ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of the Billboard country charts according to historian Joel Whitburn's book "The Top 40 Country Hits", behind Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Tammy Wynette, and Tanya Tucker. Wells was the third country music artist, behind Roy Acuff and Hank Williams, to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991 as well as being the seventh woman and first Caucasian woman to receive the honor. In 1976, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Your Wild Life's Gonna Get You Down
Kitty Wells Lyrics
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You honky tonk all over town and your wild life's gonna get you down
I beg you time and time again not to treat me like you do
You've always been a run around now your wild life's gonna get you down
Although you've always been untrue I know I'll never love anew
You're not the one for me I've found and your wild life's gonna get you down
You don't care no more for me darling that is plain to see
In "Your Wild Life's Gonna Get You Down," Kitty Wells laments the dangerous and destructive lifestyle of her partner. She warns him that his reckless behavior - drinking and partying in honky tonks all over town - will eventually catch up to him, leading to his downfall. Despite her attempts to convince him to settle down and treat her with respect, he persistently refuses, instead choosing to continue down his self-destructive path. She knows that his infidelity and disregard for her feelings will eventually lead her to move on and find happiness elsewhere while he suffers the consequences of his wild life.
From a broader perspective, Wells is representing the perils of the honky-tonk lifestyle that she and other country singers of the era often sang about. The dangers of drinking, gambling, and casual sex were rampant in the honky-tonk scene, and those who indulged in them were often portrayed as tragic figures, doomed to a short and unhappy life. Wells' warning to her wayward lover is therefore less about him as an individual and more about the larger societal issues that she sees at play.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't care what kind of life you live you don't care for love I give
You have no regard for the way you live or the love I offer you
You honky tonk all over town and your wild life's gonna get you down
You frequently visit bars and clubs which will lead to your downfall
I beg you time and time again not to treat me like you do
I plead with you repeatedly to stop mistreating me
You've always been a run around now your wild life's gonna get you down
You've always been unfaithful to me and your lifestyle will eventually catch up to you
Although you've always been untrue I know I'll never love anew
Even though you have constantly been unfaithful, I will never find another love
You're not the one for me I've found and your wild life's gonna get you down
I have realized that you are not the right person for me and your lifestyle will have consequences
You don't care no more for me darling that is plain to see
It's clear to me that you no longer care about our relationship
Someday I want to be around to see your wild life's get you down
One day I hope to witness the negative consequences of your reckless behavior
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALLION
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