About The Song
“Go to Hell” is a bold, gospel-infused country song by Dolly Parton, released on November 11, 2003, as part of her album For God and Country on Welk Music Group. Written by Parton, it’s a 4:28 track that didn’t chart but became a fan favorite for its unapologetic stance, blending humor and faith. The lyrics confront Satan directly—“Go to Hell, go to Hell, go back where you belong / Get thee behind me Satan, just leave me the Hell alone”—rebuking evil forces like war, greed, and corruption while affirming God’s power. Parton’s spirited delivery, backed by gospel choirs, gives it a revival-tent energy. She told NPR in 2003, “I wrote it to say what I feel about the world’s troubles. It’s me telling the devil where to go, plain and simple.”
Recorded in 2003 at Sound Kitchen in Franklin, Tennessee, the track was produced by Parton, Kent Wells, and Tony Smith. The arrangement features The Nashville String Machine, with uncredited players likely including David Angell on violin and Pam Sixfin on strings, per Discogs. The choir, led by Lisa Silver, adds a soaring backdrop, while Parton’s spoken interludes—“Satan, you ol’ devil you, God can flatten you like a Sunday morning pancake”—inject her trademark wit. The song’s G-C-Am progression and “go to Hell in a handbasket” hook, per Lyrics.com, make it a fiery anthem. AllMusic calls it “a patriotic and spiritual standout,” noting its blend of “Dolly’s sass and sincerity.” The album, her first patriotic release, peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Parton, born January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, was at a reflective stage in 2003, channeling her Pentecostal roots into songs addressing post-9/11 tensions. Known for “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” she’s composed over 3,000 songs, per Lyrics.com. “Go to Hell” was performed live during her 2004 Hello, I’m Dolly tour, including a Nashville Ryman Auditorium show, with clips on YouTube. A cover by Ursula West exists, per SecondHandSongs, but the song’s media use is limited, appearing only in niche gospel playlists on Spotify. Web:8⁊ Bebe Rexha pitched Parton a duet referencing “heaven and hell” in 2023, but Parton declined due to its religious tone, opting for “Seasons” instead, per People.
No controversies surround the track, though its blunt language raised eyebrows among some Christian fans, as noted on SongMeanings. Parton addressed this in a 2003 CMT interview: “I’m not cursing; I’m just telling Satan where he belongs, with a little Dolly attitude.” The song’s message of resilience resonates, with fans on Reddit’s r/country praising its “kick-the-devil’s-butt vibe.
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Lyric
Go to Hell, go to Hell, go back where you belong
Get thee behind me Satan, just leave me the Hell alone
Take your wars and your politics, your lust and your greed
And go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for meGo to Hell, go to Hell, go back where you belong
Get thee behind me Satan, just leave me alone
You’re a cheat, you’re a liar, you’re a scoundrel and a thief
Go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for me
Go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell
Go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for meOh, I tried hard to conquer my fears and my doubts
But everywhere I turn I see your evil doin’s all about
I have suffered your sorrow, your heartache and grief
You keep dealing me a bad hand with a trick card up your sleeveGo to Hell, go to Hell, go back where you belong
Get thee behind me Satan, just leave me alone
Take all of your bad guys, your demons and flee
Go to Hell in a handbasket, heaven’s calling me
Go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell
Go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for meOh, I know I’m no angel, but I’m better than that
And God is still my hero, and he can knock you flat
There is nothing but sorrow in that wicked place that you dwell
Take your pain and your misery and go straight to HellGo to Hell, go to Hell, go back where you belong
Get thee behind me Satan, just leave me alone
Take your drugs and your alcohol, your vices and leave
Go to Hell in a handbasket, just get away from me
Go to Hell (go to Hell), go to Hell (go to Hell)
Go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for me[Spoken]
My brothers and my sisters, I’m here to tell you that Satan is real
He is real and walking around amongst us
Trying to destroy everything that’s good and beautiful
He wants to break our hearts and minds, destroy our dreams and plans
He wants to tear us up in little pieces, break us down and send us straight to Hell
(Oh, my God) Ah-ha, you said a mouthful brother
Oh, my GodOh, my God can do anything
My God can heal the sick, mend broken hearts and take our souls to heaven
So Satan, listen up
In God’s name I rebuke you
I stand up in his name, look you in the eye and laugh in your ugly face (ha, ha, ha)Go to Hell, go to Hell, go back where you belong
Get thee behind me Satan, just leave me alone
Take your weapons of mass destruction, terror and sleaze
Go to Hell with your corruption, just get away from me
Go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell
Go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for me
Go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell
Go to Hell in a handbasket ‘cause heaven waits for me
Go to Hell in a handbasket, heaven’s calling me
Heaven, heaven waits for me, so go to Hell
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