Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Joe Offer ADD: God May Forgive You (But I Won't) (17) Lyr Add: GOD MAY FORGIVE YOU (BUT I WON'T) ^^ 25 Jul 97


I first heard Iris Dement sing this live, before she made a name for herself. I'm still looking for her recording of the song, which is supposed to be on an import CD single. I finally found it on the 1996 Rounder "Rosie Flores - Honky Tonk Reprise" CD. I suppose it's not a folk song, but it's SUCH a good song. Rosie's diction isn't as clear as Iris's, but here's what I was able to transcribe:

GOD MAY FORGIVE YOU (BUT I WON'T)
(Harlan Howard-Bobby Braddock)

You say that you're born again
Cleansed of your former sins
You want me to say I'll forgive and forget
But you've done too much to me,
Don't you be touchin' me
Go back and touch all those women you met.

[chorus]
God May Forgive You (But I Won't)
Yes, Jesus loves you, but I don't.
They don't have to live with you,
Neither do I.
You say that you're born again
Well, so am I
God May Forgive You (But I Won't)
I won't even try.
The kids used to cry for you,
I had to try to do
Things that a dad should do,
Since you were gone.
You really let us down
You may be heaven-bound
But you made one hell of a mess
Here at home.

[chorus]^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc7RcVqJ6Gk


Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.