"Let Me Go, Devil" is a song written in

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito is chosen President of Yug ...

Jenny Lou Carson Jenny Lou Carson, (January 13, 1915 – December 16, 1978), born Virginia Lucille Overstake, was an American country music singer-songwriter and the first woman to write a No. 1 country music hit. From 1945 to 1955 she was one of the most prolifi ...

. Carson greatly admired the talents of Hank Williams. Williams' battle with

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...

and subsequent death inspired her to write the song. It was first recorded on July 2, 1953, by Wade Ray, followed a few weeks later by

Georgie Shaw Georgie Shaw, born George Shoester (1930 - September 1, 2006) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was an American popular musician. Biography Career Shaw recorded a song called " Let Me Go, Devil", written in 1953, which was about alcoholism. It was ...

Johnny Bond Cyrus Whitfield Bond (June 1, 1915 – June 12, 1978), known professionally as Johnny Bond, was an American country music singer-songwriter, guitarist and composer and publisher, who co-founded a music publishing firm, he was active in the musi ...

and

Tex Ritter Woodward Maurice Ritter (January 12, 1905 – January 2, 1974) was a pioneer of American country music, a popular singer and actor from the mid-1930s into the 1960s, and the patriarch of the Ritter acting family (son John, grandsons Jason and ...

. In 1954, then Columbia Records producer

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

felt the song as written was too depressing for pop audiences and suggested that "Devil" be changed to "Lover". The pop song writing team of Fred Wise,

Kay Twomey Kathleen G. "Kay" Twomey (April 27, 1914 in Boston, Massachusetts – September 26, 1995 in Wellesley, Massachusetts) was an American songwriter and music arranger. Twomey co-wrote '' Serenade of the Bells'', which reached the Billboard magazine ...

, and Ben Weisman writing under the pseudonym Al Hill, were hired to rewrite the lyrics. The song became the major 1954- 1955 hit, "

Let Me Go, Lover! "Let Me Go, Lover!", a popular song, was written by Jenny Lou Carson and Al Hill, a pen name used by Fred Wise, Kathleen Twomey, and Ben Weisman. It is based on an earlier song called " Let Me Go, Devil", about alcoholism. Background "Let Me ...

." In 1954, it was also recorded By Hank Snow, on RCA Victor 47-5960. The 45rpm label showed "Let Me Go, Lover"; however the lyrics heard on the piece were "Let Me Go, Woman", following closely the Mitch Miller revised lyrics.

References

*Rogers, Arnold & Langley, Jerry (2005). ''Many Tears Ago: The Life and Times of Jenny Lou Carson''. Nova/Nashville Books. 1953 singles American songs Songs written by Jenny Lou Carson Georgie Shaw songs {{pop-standard-stub