Marty Robbins’ “Devil Woman”: A Powerful Confession of Adultery, Forgiveness, and Redemption
Released in June 1962 as the lead single and title track from his album, Devil Woman, this song became one of Marty Robbins’ greatest crossover successes. It was an absolute powerhouse on the country charts, spending an incredible eight weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Critically, it also successfully managed to charm the broader American audience, peaking strongly at Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. This dual success underscores the universality of the song’s theme and the sheer magnetism of Robbins’ delivery.
The story behind “Devil Woman,” written by Marty Robbins himself, is what truly sets it apart and gives it its enduring emotional weight. It is not a tale of the Old West or an adventurous saga; it is a raw, modern confession delivered in the first person. The narrator is a man addressing his mistress, the eponymous “Devil Woman,” announcing that their affair is over. He dramatically—and perhaps unfairly—blames her for his “great sin,” essentially casting her as the temptress who ensnared him against his will.
But the true emotional core of the song, the part that resonated so deeply with audiences then and still does today, is the redemption found in the figure of his wife, Mary.
He sings: “I told Mary about us, I told her about our great sin. Mary cried and forgave me, and Mary took me back again.“
This confession, and Mary’s subsequent act of forgiveness, is the pivot point. The wife, heartbroken but ultimately loving, represents sanctuary, salvation, and the true home he desperately wants to return to. The mistress, for all her alluring power, is now seen as “evil like the dark coral reef,” bringing only “sorrow and grief.” The narrator is not just ending an affair; he is struggling to break a spell, telling the mistress, “Devil woman let go of me, Devil woman let me be and leave me alone, I wanna go home.“
For an older generation, particularly those raised in a time when fidelity and the sanctity of marriage were paramount cultural pillars, this song was a powerful, cautionary drama played out over the radio waves. It articulated the immense guilt and the ultimate relief of a man choosing his committed life over fleeting temptation. It speaks to the incredible, selfless power of forgiveness, making Mary the real hero of the story, not the singer.
The musical arrangement is brilliant—a perfect fusion of late 50s/early 60s rockabilly rhythm and traditional country storytelling. Robbins’ voice is tense, dramatic, and compelling, walking that fine line between blaming the mistress and owning his shame. The slightly jazzy, slightly ominous musical punctuation adds a layer of mystery and danger, perfectly underscoring the “devil” in the woman’s characterization. It is a song that is as much a cautionary tale as it is a testament to the binding, forgiving nature of true, enduring love. It reminds us all that when faced with ruin, the most precious things in life are often those we already possess.