This was written and first recorded by John D. Loudermilk in 1960. It was not a hit.
Mickie Most produced a more raucous version by the Nashville Teens in 1964, which reached No 14 in the US (their only hit there) and No 6 in the UK.
Nashville Teens: Tobacco Road
Square
I despise you ’cause you’re filthy,
But I love you, ’cause you’re home.
Poetry, pure poetry.
Lou Rawls did a good version, but I think the Nashville Teens one is the greatest.
Speaking of Lou Rawls, his big hit “You’ll Never Find” is a classic. I found this wonderful clip of it, in which he has a bout of coughing during the song. The backing singers are great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFO7qzN6yFE