The Wild Side of Life
Waylon Jennings · Leather & Lace (w. Jessi Colter) [RCA Victor] [1981]
Waylon & Jessi
You wouldn't read my letter if I wrote you
You asked me not to call you on the phone
But there's something I'm wanting to tell you
So I wrote it in the words of this song.
I didn't know God made honky tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
You gave up the only one that ever loved you
And went back to the wild side of life.
--- Instrumental ---
As I sit here tonight the jukebox's playin'
A song bout the wild side of life
As I listen to the words you are sayin'
It brings mem'ries when I was a trusting wife.
It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
As you say in the words of your song
Too many times married men think they're single
And it haunts a million poor girls to go wrong.
It wasn't God who made honky tonk angels
I might have known you'd never make a wife
Too many times married men think they're single
And go back to the wild side of life.
They go back to the wild side of life...
The Wild Side of Life
Waylon Jennings' "The Wild Side of Life" stands as a quintessential example of his outlaw country sound, capturing the rugged individualism that defined his career. Recorded for the album *Leather & Lace*, the track features Jennings' signature raspy vocal delivery and a driving rhythm section that propelled him to the forefront of the genre in the early 1980s. The song reflects the rebellious spirit of the era, emphasizing themes of freedom and self-reliance that became hallmarks of his musical identity. As a staple of his discography, the recording showcases his ability to blend traditional country elements with a modern edge, influencing countless artists who followed in his footsteps. It remains a powerful representation of the outlaw movement's enduring legacy in American music.