Dwight Yoakam – Intentional Heartache

About the song

Dwight Yoakam has always had a knack for spinning heartbreak into honky-tonk poetry, but with “Intentional Heartache”, he brings a sharp wit and a rocking swagger that makes this track stand out even among his rich catalog of emotionally charged songs. Originally released in 2005 as part of his album Blame the Vain, this track is more than just another breakup anthem , it’s a cleverly crafted story with a twang, a sneer, and a whole lot of character.

What makes “Intentional Heartache” so compelling is its theatrical delivery. Yoakam doesn’t just sing the song, he inhabits it. From the first line, you can tell this isn’t about quiet sorrow or soft regrets. It’s about a woman who knew exactly how to break a man down, piece by piece, and did it with style. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of revenge , from sugar in the gas tank to carving names into vintage guitars and all of it delivered with a biting sense of humor.

But beyond the sass and the stomp, Yoakam infuses the song with an undercurrent of real pain. His voice, always capable of balancing vulnerability and bravado, walks the line between rage and resignation. That’s the genius of this song: it’s angry, yes, but it’s also smart, and surprisingly sad under the surface. Like much of his work, “Intentional Heartache” is rooted in traditional country influences, but it flirts with rockabilly and Bakersfield style rock, giving it an edge that sets it apart from more polished, radio friendly fare.

For longtime fans of Dwight Yoakam, this song is a reminder of why his music still matters, it’s country with a pulse, lyrics with bite, and a delivery that hits you in the gut. And for anyone who’s ever suffered a broken heart at the hands of someone who meant to cause pain, “Intentional Heartache” is both a cathartic cry and a toe-tapping anthem.

Video

Lyrics

She drove South I-95 straight though Carolina
She didn’t use no damn map to find her way
She pulled off on a state route
Just north of Charlotte
And took mostly county roads the rest of the day

She said I’ll give him an intentional heartache
That’ll hurt a lot worse than the one he left in me
Would you all step back so a girl
Might could get started
Then he won’t have to look twice to see

She drove up across the yard
And through his momma’s garden
Didn’t touch the brakes slammed
Right into his Chevrolet
Tossed out his clothes, boots
Bud cap, and signed Dale Jr. poster
Then shot the whole mess neon green
With a can of Dupont spray

She said I’ll give him an intentional heartache
That’ll hurt a lot worse than the one he left in me
Would you all step back so a girl
Might could get started
Then he won’t have to look twice to see

She said I’ll give you an intentional heartache
That’ll hurt a lot worse than the one that you left in me
And tell your little tramp to step back so
Your new ex-wife can get started
Then you won’t have to look twice to see

Just watch this
Then she sprayed that Bud cap bright green
Said Connie put that can of spray paint down
Just watch this
Then she pulled them Nakona boots out, sprayed them neon too
Put the can down Connie
She give it hell with that can of spray paint
He kept yelling at her just put the can down
So she sprayed him
Then she did a little dance on top of that Dale Jr. poster
Just kind of a hoochie coochie
Alright Connie
He said I saw you Connie, now put it down
Just watch this, she run over to the passenger side of that Monte Carlo
And she sprayed tramp
On the hood on the back of the house
We tried to call her sister
What was that girls name
Said you gotta come get this girl
Nancy, I think
She said watch this
Said Lookee here lookee here, watch this
She run that girl back up on the porch
Screamin’ at her tramp this
Oh yeah
She give him an intentional heartache
Alright, alright Connie I heard you
His momma was crying in there on the phone
His daddy said
I told you that girl was gonna get like that
She said watch this, here