It’s hard to imagine Patty Loveless’ “Blame It on Your Heart” as anything other than the perfect song for the singer. The 1993 country hit is about as Patty Loveless as it gets. The song is pure honky-tonk swagger, turning a breakup into an epic takedown of a man who lied, cheated and apparently didn’t realize what he had until it was gone. Loveless initially passed on the song. Now, it’s being named her best song of all time.
Patty Loveless Initially Passed on the Song
@cowboymarcuslovescountry Patty Loveless – Blame It On Your Heart 🎵🎵🤠🤠
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Loveless and her team originally passed on “Blame It on Your Heart” because they felt the song was too much of a “ditty.” Feeling the song wasn’t substantial enough for the singer or the direction they envisioned for her, Loveless and her team initially passed on the song.
“Blame It on Your Heart” didn’t disappear because Loveless took a pass. Singer Deborah Allen recorded it for the 1993 film The Thing Called Love, which gave Loveless another opportunity to hear what the song could become.
Loveless reconsidered and recorded it. Released in 1993, “Blame It on Your Heart” became a No. 1 country hit for Patty Loveless and ultimately one of her signature songs, proving the song had more to it than simply being a “ditty.”
Related: 1976 Ronnie Milsap Classic Had a Piano Lick So Memorable It Earned Tammy Wynette a Writing Credit
The “Ditty” Became a Breakup Classic
The song’s simplicity is part of what makes it such an enduring classic, but that simplicity is exactly what initially made Loveless and her team say no.
“Blame it on your lyin’, cheatin’ / Cold, deadbeatin’ / Two-timin’, double-dealin’ / Mean, mistreatin’ lovin’ heart!”
The song’s writers, Harlan Howard and Kostas Lazarides, waste no time explaining the breakup or stating a case for right and wrong. Instead, they quickly pile on insult upon insult, creating one deliciously catchy chorus.
The song creates a country kiss-off with a side of humor, making it one of the ultimate breakup anthems. Loveless isn’t begging this man to come back, and she’s not devastated by his departure. Instead, she’s looking at the wreckage of the relationship and saying: You did this, not me.
That’s classic Patty Loveless, who brings a powerful country voice to lyrics that are playful, rhythmic and catchy. That contrast is part of why “Blame It on Your Heart” is her best. The contrast between the song’s seemingly simple lyrics and Loveless’ ability to make a breakup sound like a celebration is part of the song’s allure.
Patty Loveless Turned a “Ditty” Into a No. 1 Hit
What was initially perceived as a lightweight ditty became one of Patty Loveless’ signature classics.
Now, it’s her best.
Related: 1973 Country Classic Written the Same Day as ‘I Will Always Love You’ Named Dolly Parton’s Best Ever by Rolling Stone
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