About The Song
“If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right)” is a classic country ballad co-written and recorded by Vern Gosdin, released in February 1983 as the first single and title track from his album of the same name on Compleat Records. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, marking a significant comeback for Gosdin, who was in his late 40s and defying Nashville’s ageism at the time. It was distributed by Mercury, helping an independent label achieve notable success. Gosdin wrote the song with Max D. Barnes, a frequent collaborator known for crafting emotionally charged songs about heartbreak and barroom romance.
The track was produced by Blake Mevis at a Nashville studio, featuring backing vocals by Curtis Young, Kathy Burdick, and Gosdin’s brother Rex Gosdin. The production reflects the early ‘80s style with a liberal use of string sections and slightly dated backing vocal arrangements, but Mevis enhanced Gosdin’s vocals by boosting the mids and adding reverb, transforming his voice into a haunting, mournful tone often likened to a “mourning-dove call,” as noted in a Discogs review. The album, released on April 11, 1983, includes other tracks like “Way Down Deep,” which also reached No. 5 on the Billboard chart, and “Today My World Slipped Away,” later a No. 3 hit for George Strait in 1997.
The song’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man resigned to heartbreak, asking his departing lover to leave with dignity: “There’s a closet full of dresses that I bought you / And here’s the keys to the new car in the drive.” It captures a mix of defeat and lingering hope, offering a poignant look into a doomed relationship. A 2023 review on Kyle’s Korner blog praised its evocative storytelling, noting, “It’s a poignant window into a relationship gone wrong, and while it’s not perfect, it’s more than enough of a story to both draw listeners in and let someone like Gosdin breathe life into it.”
Gosdin, often called “The Voice” in country music for his emotive delivery, had pitched the song to George Jones, who passed on it—a decision Jones later regretted, covering it in 2005 on his album Hits I Missed. Other covers include versions by The Osborne Brothers, Gene Rockwell, and a 2014 single by Kelly Lang. The album was re-released on CD in 2001 by Gosdin’s VGM label, making it accessible to new fans. A 2012 My Kind of Country review called it a “must-have,” highlighting Gosdin’s vocal prowess and the album’s high-quality material.
The song’s success helped pave the way for Gosdin’s peak in the late ‘80s with hits like “Chiseled in Stone.” It remains a fan favorite, often cited on forums like Steve Hoffman Music for its heart-wrenching depth. Its throwback style resonated during a time when traditional country was resurging, solidifying Gosdin’s legacy as a master of emotional ballads.
Video
Lyric
There’s a closet full of dresses that I bought you
And here’s the keys to the new car in the drive
And before you leave our room, put on your best perfume
If you’re gonna do me wrong, do it rightPlease don’t try to spare my feelings, just leave me here alone
Cause when you leave me, I won’t need a thing
And when you walk out the door, don’t turn around no more
If you’re gonna do me wrong, do it rightThere’s a picture on the table, I gave you long ago
And in the silence, I can hear your voice at night
So take it with you when you go, I don’t need it anymore
If you’re gonna do me wrong, do it rightI wonder where we’d be tonight, if things had turned out right
But now it’s over, and there’s nothing left to say
So let’s end it all tonight, before the morning light
If you’re gonna do me wrong, do it right
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