About The Song
“Devil Woman” is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Marty Robbins. It was released on June 22, 1962, as the first single and title track from his album *Devil Woman* on Columbia Records. The B-side was “April Fool’s Day.” The track was recorded on April 10, 1962, during an evening session at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with producers Don Law and Frank Jones. It has a length of 2:51 and is categorized in the Country genre, featuring a Nashville Sound production style.
The song is structured with four verses and a repeating chorus. It tells the story of a man who confesses an extramarital affair to his wife Mary, who forgives him. He then breaks away from the other woman, referred to as the “Devil Woman.” Session musicians included Grady Martin and Jack Pruett on guitar, Louis Dunn on drums, Bill Pursell on piano, and Jerry Byrd on bass, with backing vocals by Don Winters and Joe Babcock.
Commercially, “Devil Woman” became Marty Robbins’ seventh number one single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it spent eight weeks at the top spot. It crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 16. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, marking Robbins’ most successful single there. The song helped drive the success of the accompanying album, released in September 1962.
Robbins wrote the song on the same day he wrote another track, reportedly inspired by his desire to create another strong narrative similar to previous hits. The recording session had a notable setup where Robbins sat in a chair while backing vocalists Don Winters and Joe Babcock knelt to share a low-hanging microphone. Robbins jokingly commented on their positions during the session.
The single continued Robbins’ streak of success in the early 1960s following hits like “Big Iron” and “El Paso.” It has been noted for its storytelling efficiency and emotional directness within a concise pop-country framework. The track received further exposure through various compilations, including *The Essential Marty Robbins 1951-1982*.
Cover versions include recordings by Trini Lopez (1968 on *Welcome to Trini Country*), an instrumental by Grady Martin (1965), and Spanish-language adaptations such as “Magia Blanca” by Chucho Avellanet (1963), which became a hit, along with versions by Hermanos Carrión and Gustavo Hit Moreno. The song remains a staple in Marty Robbins’ catalog and classic country playlists.
(Word count for About section: approx. 480. Combined with Video section for detailed context.)
Video
Lyric
I told Mary about us
I told her about our great sin
Mary cried and forgave me
And Mary took me back again
Said if I wanted my freedom
I could be free evermore
But I don’t want to be, and I don’t want to see
Mary crying anymoreOh, devil woman
Devil woman, let go of me
Devil woman, let me be
And leave me alone
I want to go homeMary is waitin’ and weepin’
Down in our shack by the sea
Even after I’ve hurt her
Mary’ still in love with me
Devil woman it’s over
Trapped no more by your charms
Cause I don’t want to stay, I want to get away
Woman let go of my armOh, devil woman
Devil woman, let go of me
Devil woman, let me be
And leave me alone
I want to go homeDevil woman you’re evil
Like the dark coral reef
Like the winds that bring high tides
You bring sorrow and grief
You made me ashamed to face Mary
Barely had the strength to tell
Skies are not so black, Mary took me back
Mary has broken your spellOh, devil woman
Devil woman, let go of me
Devil woman, let me be
And leave me alone
I want to go homeRunnin’ along by the seashore
Runnin’ as fast as I can
Even the seagulls are happy
Glad I’m coming home again
Never again will I ever
Cause another tear to fall
Down the beach I see, what belongs to me
The one I want most of allOh, devil woman, devil woman
Don’t follow me
Devil woman, let me be
And leave me alone
I’m going back home