The Feminist Response Kitty Wells Had to Hank Thompson’s No. 1 Hit

Hank Thompson was no saint. His debauchery and self-indulgence expanded beyond his alcohol abuse and seeped into misogyny. At least, that much is clear in his first no. 1 hit song, “The Wild Side Of Life“. That song takes on a rather sexist perspective.

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“The Wild Side Of Life” was released in 1952 and surely was a product of the time. However, Kitty Wells‘ 1952 classic “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels” was the perfect rebuttal to some of the unsavory lyrics in Thompson’s hit track.

Given the repetition of lyrics, Wells’ song was deliberately directed toward Thompson and “The Wild Side Of Life”, specifically. That being said, when both songs are heard side by side, they become a verbal match of wits. And Wells wrote her side of the match for the greater good.

The Problematic Views in “Wild Side Of Life” by Hank Thompson

Thompson’s song is about a man who falls in love with a woman who frequents honky tonks. However, the negative connotation of the song is that Thompson is ridiculing the woman in question for her alleged promiscuity and lack of domesticity.

The lines that highlight Thompson’s perspective are pretty obvious: “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.”

Thompson also sings the line “I didn’t know God made Honky Tonk angels“. This is both the inspiration for Wells’ rebuttal track and the foundation for her cleverly bold response.

Kitty Wells Used Music for Her Epic Response to Thompson

Kitty Wells’ song could not be more boldly empowering. The lines rebutting Thompson include the following: “Too many times married men think they’re still single / That has caused many a good girl to go wrong.”

“It’s a shame that all the blame is on us women / It’s not true that only you men feel the same” is also a pretty scathing line for the time.

Wells also directly calls out Thompson as she sings the lines “It wasn’t God who made honky-tonk angels / As you said in the words of your song.” The line cleverly suggests that men made honky-tonk angels, not God.

Kitty Wells’ song has always been a feminist anthem, and rightfully so. Thompson’s song has not stood the test of time for a reason. Furthermore, it’s quite impressive to see Wells take down Thompson’s perspective in such an intellectual and witty fashion. She was really an incredible songwriter.

Photo by David Redfern/Redferns