Released: March 7, 1991

Songwriter: Dolly Parton

Producer: Gary Smith Steve Buckingham

[Verse 1]
I thought I saw the promise of forever in your eyes
I thought that I was sure of what I saw
You led me to believe that I was special in your life
So I left my heart wide open for the fall

[Chorus]
What a heartache you turned out to be
What a heartache, what a heartache
Love ain't always what it appears to be
And what a heartache you turned out to be

[Verse 2]
I thought I'd found a safe and loving place inside your heart
And I was warm and willing anytime
The same soft lips that kissed me sweet were lying from the start
But I swear I thought your love was genuine

[Chorus]
What a heartache you turned out to be
What a heartache, what a heartache
Like a switchblade that cuts so swift and deep
What a heartache you turned out to be

[Verse 3]
It just goes to show that you never can tell
I really thought that I knew you well
I still can't believe I could be deceived so easily
Are all these wishes I'm wishing to myself
Like rusty coins in a wishing well?
Wishes come true, they come false, as well
It's too late for you and me

[Outro]
Oh what a heartache, what a heartbreak
Love is two-faced and easy to believe
What a heartache, what a heartache
What a mistake to think that I could believe
What a heartache you turned out to be
Oh what a heartache you turned out to be

Dolly Parton

Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music

Beginning her career as a child performer, Parton issued a few modestly successful singles from 1959 through the mid-1960s, showcasing her distinctive soprano voice. She came to greater prominence in 1967 as a featured performer on singer Porter Wagoner’s weekly television program; their first duet single, a cover of Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing on My Mind”, was a top-ten hit on the country singles charts, and led to several successful albums before they ended their partnership in 1974. Moving towards mainstream pop music, Parton’s 1977 single “Here You Come Again” was a success on both the country and pop charts. A string of pop-country hits followed into the mid-1980s, the most successful being her 1981 hit 9 to 5" (from the film of the same name), and her 1983 duet with Kenny Rogers “Islands in the Stream”, both of which topped the U.S. pop and country singles charts. A pair of albums recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris were among her later successes. In the late 1990s, Parton returned to classic country/bluegrass with a series of acclaimed recordings