The Song That Made Tammy Wynette the Queen of Heartache

Tammy Wynette wrote and performed a virtually endless stream of absolutely heartbreaking songs in her heyday. But there’s one song of hers that has always tugged at my heartstrings. That song is “I Don’t Think About Him No More” from Wynette’s 1974 record Woman To Woman.

That whole record is essential listening for any classic country fan. It was a huge hit at the time of its release. The album peaked at no. 21 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. But “I Don’t Think About Him No More”, which wasn’t even released as a single, might just be one of her most underrated tear-jerkers.

I personally think “I Don’t Think About Him No More” is Tammy Wynette’s saddest song of her career. That, naturally, isn’t an established fact, but rather a bold opinion. I do have to say, quite a few fans of this song share my sentiment.

“I truly believe she never stopped loving him,” said one fan in the comments of the above YouTube video for the song, likely referring to country star George Jones. “But [she] just could not let her true feelings show. I believe that if her and Jones would have stayed together, I believe they could have had a beautiful life together.”

“Tammy and George were both great, this is haunting and heartfelt,” commented another.

Why “I Don’t Think About Him No More” Is Tammy Wynette’s Saddest Song

Even though I personally think this song is Tammy Wynette’s most heartbreaking, there are plenty of contenders for that title. “Til I Can Make it On my Own” could easily be her saddest tune to another listener. “Til I Get it Right”, a tale of falling and failing in love, is also a solid contender.

Still, there’s something about “I Don’t Think About Him No More” that has always gotten under my skin. It’s the song that first associated Wynette with being the Queen of Heartache in my mind.

“I Don’t Think About Him No More” was written by songwriter Mickey Newbury, but Wynette’s rendition of the tune takes on a life of its own. 

“This morning at dawn / Lord I pulled into town / Had some coffee and talked with some old friends of mine / Laughing at the good times they remembered / And then I remembered a time.”

Wynette croons about a man she once loved, and how she can’t seem to escape being reminded of that broken relationship in her day-to-day life. It’s relatable, but also particularly heartbreaking when you consider her relationship with Jones.

“But I don’t think much about him no more / Seldom if ever does he cross my mind / Yesterday’s gone, Lord it’s better forgotten / It’s like the poison red berries that cling, to the mind.”

Photo by David Redfern/Redferns

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