About the song

Background

  • Released in 1*981 on the album Strait Country
  • Written by Dean Dillon, Charles Quillen, and David Wills
  • A lighthearted country song about a man whose partner is trying to reform his sinful ways and get him to church.

Lyrics

The song follows a man who enjoys a wild lifestyle and isn’t too keen on religion. His partner, however, is determined to get him on the right path. The lyrics humorously depict this struggle:

  • He admits to overindulging and being hungover on Sundays.
  • He keeps breaking promises to go to church, preferring fishing to attending service.
  • His partner buys him a nice suit for church, but he ruins it with holes while gambling.

Themes

  • The battle between temptation and piety: The song depicts the classic tension between indulging in earthly pleasures and following a religious path.
  • Love’s influence: The woman’s unwavering dedication to her partner’s spiritual well-being is a testament to her love.
  • Humor in everyday life: The song uses humor to portray a relatable situation many couples might face, where one person tries to influence the other’s habits.

Overall, “She’s Playing Hell Trying To Get Me To Heaven” is a fun song with a relatable theme, offering a lighthearted look at love, faith, and the challenges of changing one’s ways.

Video

Lyrics

I let it all hang out last nightCome in hung over this morningMy woman met me at the doorPreaching me this warningShe said “You’re gonna have to changeYour sinful way of living”She’s playing hellTrying to get me to heaven
Well, I promised to go to church with herAbout a month of Sundays agoAnd here it is, it’s Sunday againAnd I ain’t been once in a rowAnd everytime that old church bell ringsYou can hear my rod and reel singingShe’s playing hellTrying to get me to heaven
She’s playing hellTrying to get me to heaven‘Cause there ain’t no wayAll my sins could be forgivenThere’s only Ten CommandmentsBut I broke at least elevenShe’s playing hellTrying to get me to heaven
She went out and bought meA Sunday go-meeting suitAnd I must confess it looked pretty sharpWith my old hunting bootsBut I wore holes in both the kneesTrying to roll them sevensShe’s playing hellTrying to get me to heaven
She’s playing hellTrying to get me to heaven