The Wild Side of Life
Tommy Scott Lyrics


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Well, you wouldn't read my letters if I wrote you
You asked me not to call you on the phone
There's something I've been waiting for to tell you
So I wrote it in the words of this song

You never knew there were honky tonk angels
Or you might have known I'd never make a wife
You walked out on the only one who ever loved you
So I went back to the wild side of life

Now the glamor of the good life always lead me
To the places where the wild liquor flows
I tried to be your one and only angel
But I'm not that kind of angel, heaven knows

I cried so hard the day you went and left me
'Cause some things you said, they cut me like a knife
What you wanted was another kind of angel
And you should be back to the wild side of life

No, well, I guess I'm just a honky tonk angel
I might have known I'd never make a wife
Well, you left the only one who ever loved you
And I'm back here on the wild side of life

I'm only a honky tonk angel
I might have known I'd never make a wife





You walked out on the only one who ever loved you
And you left me here on the wild side of life

Overall Meaning

Tommy Scott's "The Wild Side of Life" is a classic country music song that tells a story of a failed relationship. The singer starts the song by stating that he has been trying to contact his lover through letters and phone calls, but she ignores him. He then decides to express his thoughts through the words of the song. He expresses his heartache by telling his lover that he is a honky-tonk angel, not someone who can be a wife. He talks about his wild lifestyle and how it was something he could not suppress. He mentions how the glamour of the good life always leads him to places where wild liquor flows.


The singer knows that his former lover could not understand him for who he truly is. He was not the kind of angel who could fit into her life, and she ultimately left him alone. He reminds her that she left the only person who ever loved her and that he is on the wild side of life, where he belongs – back in his natural habitat.


The song explores timeless themes of love, loss, and heartache. The melancholic melody and the somber lyrics make it perfect for anyone who has experienced the pain of a failed relationship. The song reminds us of how easy it is to lose someone we love, and how difficult it is to let them go.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, you wouldn't read my letters if I wrote you
If I were to write you letters, you wouldn't read them


You asked me not to call you on the phone
You requested that I don't call you


There's something I've been waiting for to tell you
I have something I've been waiting to tell you


So I wrote it in the words of this song
So I decided to tell you through this song


You never knew there were honky tonk angels
You weren't aware that there were Honky Tonk angels


Or you might have known I'd never make a wife
If you knew about them, you would've realized I could never be a wife


You walked out on the only one who ever loved you
You left the only person who ever loved you


So I went back to the wild side of life
So I returned to the wild side of life


Now the glamor of the good life always lead me
The good life's glamour always leads me


To the places where the wild liquor flows
To the places where wild liquor is served


I tried to be your one and only angel
I attempted to be the only angel in your life


But I'm not that kind of angel, heaven knows
However, I'm not that kind of angel, heaven knows


I cried so hard the day you went and left me
I cried a lot on the day you left me


'Cause some things you said, they cut me like a knife
Some of the things you said hurt me deeply


What you wanted was another kind of angel
You wanted a different kind of angel


And you should be back to the wild side of life
You should return to the wild side of life


No, well, I guess I'm just a honky tonk angel
I suppose I'm simply a Honky Tonk angel


I might have known I'd never make a wife
I should've known I could never be a wife


Well, you left the only one who ever loved you
You left the only person who ever loved you


And I'm back here on the wild side of life
So, now I'm back living on the wild side of life




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Buddy Guy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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