When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
Don't Be Cruel
The Judds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a heart that's true
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Well you know I can be found
If you can't come around
Well at least please telephone
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Baby if I made you mad
For something I might have said
Please let's forget the past
'Cause the future looks bright ahead
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Well now don't stop thinking of me
Don't make me feel this way
Come on over here and love me
You know I want to say
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Why should we be apart
I really really love you baby
Cross my heart
Well lets walk up to the preacher
And let us say I do
And then you'll know you have me
And I'll know I'll have you too
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
The Judds’ classic hit “Don’t Be Cruel” is a plea to a lover not to be unkind to a faithful partner, to not break their hearts. The song sounds upbeat and catchy, but the lyrics are actually serious and meaningful. The message is clear: if you love someone, treat them with respect and kindness. The repetition of the opening lines emphasizes the importance of being true to one another. The singer expresses a sense of vulnerability and fear of losing their love if they are treated poorly. The use of the word 'baby' in many lines of the song is a term of endearment and love.
The lyrics of “Don’t Be Cruel” paint a picture of a woman who is waiting for her lover to come to her. She doesn’t want to be alone, and she doesn’t want to lose the one person she loves. The line "Sitting home all alone, If you can't come around, Well at least please telephone" portrays how the woman is feeling neglected and wants her lover to fulfill his promises.
The last verse, "Well lets walk up to the preacher, And let us say I do, And then you'll know you have me, And I'll know I'll have you too", suggests that the couple is looking to commit to each other and get married. It shows that the love the singer has for their partner is strong and that they want to spend their life with that one person.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't be cruel
Please be kind and treat me well
To a heart that's true
To the person who loves you deeply and sincerely
I don't want no other love
I don't want anyone else but you
Baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Only you are in my thoughts, my love
Well you know I can be found
I'm always here waiting for you
Sitting home all alone
Feeling lonely and waiting for you to come
If you can't come around
If you can't be here with me
Well at least please telephone
At least call me so I know you're thinking of me
Baby if I made you mad
If I upset you or made you angry
For something I might have said
Because of something I might have spoken
Please let's forget the past
Let's move forward and leave the past behind
'Cause the future looks bright ahead
The future looks promising and full of hope
Well now don't stop thinking of me
Please don't stop loving and missing me
Don't make me feel this way
Please don't make me feel sad or lonely
Come on over here and love me
Come be with me and show me your love
You know I want to say
I want to tell you something important
Why should we be apart
Why should we be separated
I really really love you baby
I truly love you deeply, my dear
Cross my heart
I promise from the bottom of my heart
Well lets walk up to the preacher
Let's get married and commit to each other
And let us say I do
Let's exchange vows and become one
And then you'll know you have me
You'll know that you have my heart and my love
And I'll know I'll have you too
And I'll know that I have your heart and your love too
Lyrics © BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kelly Brisco
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Well, you know I can be found
Sitting home all alone
If you can't come around
Well, at least please telephone
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Baby, if I made you mad
For something I might have said
Please let's forget the past
'Cause the future looks bright ahead
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Well, now don't stop thinking of me
Don't make me feel this way
Come on over here and love me
You know what I want to say
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Why should we be apart?
I really, love you, baby, cross my heart
Well, lets walk up to the preacher
And let us say I do
And then you'll know you have me
And I'll know I'll have you too
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Mistertbones
So many great versions of this song. Elvis' original, the Judds version, and Cheap Trick all did great versions.
Kelly Brisco
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Well, you know I can be found
Sitting home all alone
If you can't come around
Well, at least please telephone
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Baby, if I made you mad
For something I might have said
Please let's forget the past
'Cause the future looks bright ahead
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Well, now don't stop thinking of me
Don't make me feel this way
Come on over here and love me
You know what I want to say
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Why should we be apart?
I really, love you, baby, cross my heart
Well, lets walk up to the preacher
And let us say I do
And then you'll know you have me
And I'll know I'll have you too
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
Don't be cruel
To a heart that's true
I don't want no other love
Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Maria Garcia
Great version.
jan van dorst
Great memories at this song
Mark Elijio
Yes, it's my favorite!
Sungmanitu
Fun fact: The background vocals were provided by the same group that Elvis used......the Jordanaires
Robert Keane
Naomi was married to one of them
Edith Eastwood
Sending love
shane williamson
Hay.this cool. Godbless x
Danielle Duivenvoorden
Ja is goed