The Art of Forgiveness 
G

OD 

M

AY 

F

ORGIVE 

Y

OU 

(B

UT 

I

 

W

ON

’

T

)

 

– Iris DeMent 

 

Text 

Notes

 

You say that you’re born again 
cleansed of your former sins 
You want me to say “I forgive and forget” 
But you've done too much to me  
Don’t you be touching me, 
go back and touch all those women you’ve made 
 
Chorus: 

’cause God may forgive you, but I won’t 
Yes, Jesus loves you, but I don’t 
They don’t have to live with you and neither do I 
You say that you’re born again, well so am I 
God may forgive you, but I won’t 
and I won’t even try 
 

Well, the kids had to cry for you 
I had to try to do 
things that the Dad should do 
since you’ve been gone 
Well, you really let us down 
You may be Heaven ’bound 
but you’ve left one hell of a mess here at home  
 
Chorus: 

’cause God may forgive you, but I won’t 
Yes, Jesus loves you, but I don’t 
They don’t have to live with you and neither do I 
You say that you’re born again, well so am I 
God may forgive you, but I won’t 
and I won’t even try 
and I won’t even try 

 
 
 

God May Forgive You (But I Won’t) – Harlan Howard/Bobby Braddock, 
Copyright © Tree Publishing Co. (BMI) 
[b-side to the Our Town CD single]