ADD: God May Forgive You (But I Won't)

Subject: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From:
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 05:13 PM

Has anybody ever heard of this song, and if so, could you tell me where I might find lyrics and/or a recording of it? The storyline is basically that of a long-suffering wife (or perhaps friend) of a drunken (or perhaps just ornery) man who suddenly finds the Lord. The chorus goes:

Jesus may love you, but I don't

And God may forgive you, but I won't

etcetera.......

Thanks!

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Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Gene
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 06:06 PM

Wasn't that written by Harlan Howard and recorded by Iris Dement???

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Dale Rose
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 06:23 PM

Iris has not recorded it, though she performs it on her shows, including Austin City Limits a couple of years ago. I heard that it was written by H H and Bobby Braddock for Rosie Flores, but I can't confirm that.

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Dale Rose
Date: 24 Jul 97 - 07:14 PM

I guess when in doubt, look it up. Rosie Flores recorded God May Forgive You (But I Won't) in 1987 and it was reissued on Rounder 3136 last year, A Honky Tonk Reprise. Here are the liner notes~~ http://www.rounder.com/rounder/catalog/bylabel/roun/3/3136/3136notes.html

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 25 Jul 97 - 12:45 AM

I remember reading somewhere (probably a posting on rec.music.folk) that Iris Dement had recorded this song, but only on an album available in Britain or Europe.

[This information not guaranteed accurate.]

--Charlie Baum

Subject: Lyr Add: GOD MAY FORGIVE YOU (BUT I WON'T) ^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jul 97 - 01:04 AM

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

Subject: RE: Tune: God May Forgive You, But I Won't
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 07:29 PM

Anyone have a MIDI of the tune?

(I know the tune of the chorus, but I think the tune I sing for the verses is a folkified version based on partial recall.)

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:06 PM

Lyle Lovett recorded it on one of his early albums.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:10 PM

So,youre around Jerry. take a look at your PMs

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 09:27 PM

Actually, Jerry, I believe Lyle's song -- a different song with a similar theme and title -- is one he wrote. I'm told he even tried to sue Harlan Howard and Bobby Braddock, until they demonstrated that their song was clearly older than his.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Jun 02 - 10:08 PM

Genie: I think that you're right.. I have most of Lyles old stuff, and it's been awhile since I listened to that song, but the words didn't seem to quite fit...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr: Jesus May Love You (But I Don't)
From: Genie
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 01:44 AM

Jerry, I just checked out the blicky that Rechal posted at the beginning of this thread. It's a link to a thread I posted a while back seeking the lyrics to the Howard/Braddock song that Dement sings. In that thread someone posted the lyrics to Lovett's song, and then there was a discussion of the sometime confusion of the two songs and of Lovett's aborted plan to sue over copyright infringement. [Turns out H & B's song had been written a number of years earlier but not recorded at the time Lovett wrote his.]

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God May Forgive You (But I Won't)
From: GUEST,JV
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:21 PM

Sarah Petite, award winning singer from San Diego sings - "God May Forgive you, but I won't - I won't even try."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: God May Forgive You (But I Won't)
From: GUEST,rachel
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 10:20 PM

I can't believe this thread's even still around. But thank you. You helped me find the song I was looking for, albeit 14 years later.

Subject: RE: ADD: God May Forgive You (But I Won't)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 10:37 PM

Wait!!! Are you the Rechal who was a "regular" here, oh, so many years ago?

-Joe-

Subject: God May Forgive You - Howard / Braddock
From: Genie
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 01:30 AM

You can hear Iris sing the song here:
Iris Dement sings "God May Forgive You"

Subject: RE: ADD: God May Forgive You (But I Won't)
From: GUEST,NormanD
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 12:43 AM

Iris Dement popularised this song. Her recording was available as an extra track of the CD single of "Our Town" (the tune covered by Kate Rusby). I found a copy in a bargain bin years back. It's one of her best songs, and not even written by her. A new album by Iris D is *long* overdue.