About the song
“D-I-V-O-R-C-E” is a poignant and powerful country music ballad that has become an iconic classic in the genre. Written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, and recorded by the legendary Tammy Wynette in 1968, this song tells the story of a woman’s heart-wrenching experience of divorce from her husband. The song’s title, which is an old parenting trick of spelling out words that children may not yet understand, is a clever metaphor for the complexities and challenges that come with the end of a marriage.
Wynette’s version of “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” is a masterclass in storytelling, with the singer pouring her heart and soul into every lyric. Her powerful vocals convey the emotions and struggles of a woman who is facing the end of her marriage, and the song’s themes of heartbreak, loss, and resilience have resonated with listeners for generations. The song’s message is both personal and universal, speaking to the experiences of countless women who have gone through the pain of divorce.
“D-I-V-O-R-C-E” was a massive commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and earning Wynette a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female. The song has also been praised by critics, with country music historian Bill Malone calling it “painfully sincere” and “one of the most tearjerking country songs before or since.” In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #59 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time list, cementing its place as a country music classic. With its powerful lyrics, soaring vocals, and timeless themes, “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” remains a beloved and enduring country music anthem.
Video
Lyrics
Our little boy is four years old and quite a little man
So we spell out the words we don’t want him to understand
Like T-O-Y or maybe S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E
But the words we’re hiding from him now
Tear the heart right out of meOur D-I-V-O-R-C-E becomes final today
Me and little J-O-E will be going away
I love you both and this will be pure H-E-double L for me
Oh, I wish that we could stop this D-I-V-O-R-C-EWatch him smile, he thinks it’s Christmas or his fifth birthday
And he thinks C-U-S-T-O-D-Y spells fun or play
I spell out all the hurting words
And turn my head when I speak
‘Cause I can’t spell away this hurt that’s drippin’ down my cheekOur D-I-V-O-R-C-E becomes final today
Me and little J-O-E will be going away
I love you both and this will be pure H-E-double L for me
Oh, I wish that we could stop this D-I-V-O-R-C-E