George Jones – The Right Left Hand

George Jones was fifty-four years old and enjoying steady commercial success in the mid-1980s when he recorded “The Right Left Hand” for his Epic Records album *Wine Colored Roses*. Released on January 7, 1986, and produced by longtime collaborator Billy Sherrill, the project mixed upbeat honky-tonk with more reflective material. The track, issued as the album’s second single in January 1987, became one of Jones’s stronger late-decade radio hits and offered a rare moment of personal optimism from an artist whose life had included multiple marriages and well-publicized struggles.

Songwriters Dennis Knutson, A.L. “Doodle” Owens, and J. Harold Meeks crafted the number as a playful yet heartfelt tribute to Jones’s fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvado. The couple had married in 1983 after a rocky courtship, and Nancy’s steadying influence helped Jones stabilize his personal life. The song uses a clever play on words: the narrator has finally placed a golden wedding band on the “right” left hand after years of failed relationships. Lines such as “I’ve cried a million tears down through the years searching for that special one” contrast past mistakes with present contentment.

Jones cut the track at Nashville’s Eleven Eleven Studio with Sherrill guiding a tight session band that included steel guitar and traditional country instrumentation. His rich baritone delivered the lyrics with warm sincerity, blending just enough humor and gratitude to make the confession feel authentic rather than sentimental. The arrangement stayed firmly in the countrypolitan style Sherrill favored, giving the single broad radio appeal without sacrificing Jones’s signature vocal phrasing.

Epic paired “The Right Left Hand” with “The Very Best of Me” on the B-side. The single climbed to number eight on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart and reached number six on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks survey. *Wine Colored Roses* itself performed solidly, peaking at number five on the Top Country Albums chart and later earning gold certification. The album also spawned other hits including the title track and “I Turn to You,” helping Jones maintain visibility during a decade when many veteran artists faced declining airplay.

The song’s timing added extra resonance for fans. By 1987 Jones had survived decades of alcoholism, missed shows, and tabloid drama, yet Nancy’s presence had brought a measure of peace. Many listeners heard the track as semi-autobiographical, especially given Jones’s history of three previous marriages. The lighthearted tone stood in contrast to some of his darker ballads, showing a side of the Possum that was both vulnerable and grateful.

Although it did not reach the chart-topping heights of earlier classics like “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “The Right Left Hand” earned steady radio rotation and became a favorite in Jones’s live sets when he wanted to acknowledge his wife onstage. It later appeared on compilations such as *16 Biggest Hits* and reminded audiences that even deep into his career Jones could still connect with listeners through honest, relatable storytelling.

Decades after its release, the recording stands as a quiet highlight from a solid mid-1980s album. It captured Jones at a point of personal and professional stability, proving once again that his voice could turn straightforward country material into something memorable and enduring.