
There’s a quiet confidence in “Devil Woman” that pulls you in before you realize it. Marty Robbins doesn’t rush the warning—he lets it unfold, calmly, like advice given late at night when the room is still and the truth finally has space to breathe.
What makes the song unforgettable is its restraint. Marty never raises his voice to sell the drama. He sings with control, almost detached, and that’s exactly why the tension works. The story is simple: a woman whose beauty carries danger, whose charm leaves scars. But instead of turning her into a villain, Marty treats the tale like a hard-earned lesson—something learned too late to undo.
Released in 1962, “Devil Woman” became one of Robbins’ biggest hits, crossing over to the pop charts without losing its country spine. That success came from trust. Marty trusted the story. He trusted silence between lines. And he trusted listeners to feel the warning without being told how to feel.
Emotionally, the song still lands because it’s familiar. Most of us have known a moment—or a person—that looked right and felt wrong at the same time. “Devil Woman” captures that recognition perfectly. It isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness arriving after the damage is done.
Listening now, the song feels less like a tale of temptation and more like a study in emotional control. Marty Robbins didn’t chase volume or theatrics here. He chose steadiness—and in doing so, turned a simple story into something timeless.
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Lyrics
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 ever more
But I don’t wanna be, and I don’t want to see
Mary cry anymore
Oh, devil woman
Devil woman, let go of me
Devil woman, let me be and leave me alone
I want to go home
Mary is waitin’ and weepin’
Down in our shack by the sea
Even after I’ve hurt her
Mary’s 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 arm
Oh, devil woman
Devil woman, let go of me
Devil woman, let me be and leave me alone
I want to go home
Devil 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 spell
Oh, devil woman
Devil woman, let go of me
Devil woman, let me be and leave me alone
I want to go home
Runnin’ along by the seashore
Runnin’ as fast as I can
Even the seagulls are happy
Glad I’m comin’ 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 all
Oh, devil woman
Devil woman, don’t follow me
Devil woman, let me be and leave me alone
I’m goin’ back home
