Beating Around the Bush
AC/DC Lyrics


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Smiling face and loving eyes
But you keep on telling me all those lies
How do you expect me to believe
Honey I ain't that naive

Baby I got my eye on you
'Cause you do all the things I want you to
Stop your cryin' and dry your tears
I ain't that wet behind the ears

You can throw me lefts
And you can throw me rights
But where was you last night
Beating around the bush

Wish I knew what's on your mind
Why you being so unkind?
Remember those nights we spent alone
Talkin' on the telephone?

Thoughts of you goin' through my brain
You told me that you felt the same
You said that you loved me too
But tell me who was there with you

I was talking birds and you was talking bees
And was he down on his knees
Beatin' 'round the bush

You're the meanest woman I've ever known
Sticks and stones won't break my bones
I know what you're looking for
You eaten your cake, you want some more
I'm gonna give you just a one more chance
Try to save our romance
Done everything I'm gonna do
The rest is up to you

You can chew it up
And you can spit it out
Let it all hang out
Beating around the bush, oh

Chew it up, spit it out




Let it all hang out,
Beating around the bush

Overall Meaning

In AC/DC's song "Beating Around the Bush," the lyrics suggest that the singer is trying to understand why his love interest is lying to him, despite their smiling face and loving eyes. The singer is fed up with the lies and is no longer naive, as he knows what he wants in a relationship. The chorus suggests that the love interest is avoiding a direct answer and is not being transparent, which is frustrating to the singer. The verses reveal the singer's emotional struggle with the relationship, as he remembers the good times they shared but is also aware of the potential infidelity of his partner.


The lyrics in this song are a classic representation of the hard rock, blues-inspired style that AC/DC is known for. The tone of the lyrics is intense and passionate, with a driving guitar riff and classic chord progressions to carry the energy of the song. The lyrics play a big role in this song, as they are easy to understand and relate to, which makes it popular among rock fans.


Line by Line Meaning

Smiling face and loving eyes
You pretend to love me, but I know you are hiding something


But you keep on telling me all those lies
I know you are lying to me


How do you expect me to believe
I won't believe your lies anymore


Honey I ain't that naive
I'm not stupid


Baby I got my eye on you
I'm watching you closely


'Cause you do all the things I want you to
You're doing what I want, but it's not enough


Stop your cryin' and dry your tears
I don't want to hear your excuses


I ain't that wet behind the ears
I'm not inexperienced or foolish


You can throw me lefts
You can try to deceive me in various ways


And you can throw me rights
You can try to manipulate me in different ways


But where was you last night
I know you were with someone else


Beating around the bush
You're avoiding the truth


Wish I knew what's on your mind
I wish I knew what you're thinking


Why you being so unkind?
Why are you treating me badly?


Remember those nights we spent alone
I remember when we were together


Talkin' on the telephone?
We used to talk for hours on the phone


Thoughts of you goin' through my brain
I can't stop thinking about you


You told me that you felt the same
You said you loved me too


You said that you loved me too
You told me you loved me


But tell me who was there with you
I know you were with someone else


I was talking birds and you was talking bees
We were not on the same page


And was he down on his knees
He was begging for your attention


Beatin' 'round the bush
You're not answering my questions directly


You're the meanest woman I've ever known
You're so cruel


Sticks and stones won't break my bones
I won't let you hurt me anymore


I know what you're looking for
I know you want more


You eaten your cake, you want some more
You're being greedy


I'm gonna give you just a one more chance
I'm giving you one more chance


Try to save our romance
Let's try to work things out


Done everything I'm gonna do
I've done all I can do


The rest is up to you
It's up to you now


You can chew it up
You can do what you want


And you can spit it out
But I won't accept your excuses


Let it all hang out
Be honest with me


Beating around the bush, oh
Stop avoiding the truth




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANGUS MCKINNON YOUNG, MALCOLM MITCHELL YOUNG, RONALD BELFORD SCOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@rocknroll1973

@@edcollins9377 bon was not the leader. That was Malcolm. Bon influenced them. But he was not the leader. He did not craft the template. You bon fanboys give him eat too much credit. He wrote the lyrics and sang. That's about it. Writing lyrics doesn't make you the songwriter. That makes you the lyricist. Also Malcolm and Angus still wrote some lyrics and came up with titles. Malcolm and anguz werote the songs.

Angus came up with tnt and dirty deeds and highway to hell. Dude you give bon way too much credit. The whole band have stated multiple times Malcolm was the leader and driving force. Bon influenced them yes, but not to the extent you claim.
"Malcolm wrote some of their simple riffs" no lol, he wrote the whole damn songs then gave them to bon to write lyrics to.
"Out of his very limited knowledge?" Wtf? Dude you are clueless. You have no clue about Malcolm young at all.
Malcolm was the one that came back with the whole thunderstruck song and Angus had that opening riff. They wrote the drums, bass and guitar parts, some lyrics and the titles.
George and Harry vanda also contributed with lyrics and titles. The bagpipes was geirges idea.

If bon was the leader then they wouldn't have come up with so many of the great songs after bon died. Again you give Malcolm way too little credit and way too much credit to bon.
Malcolm knew a hell of a lot more than 5 or 6 chords. It was Malcolm's band and he was the leader. Period.



@Pride317

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Smiling face and loving eyes
But you keep on telling me all those lies
How'd you expect me to believe?
Honey, I ain’t that naive
Baby, I've got my eye on you
Cause you do all the things I want you to
Stop your crying and dry your tears
I ain’t that wet behind the ears

[Chorus]
And you can throw me lefts
And you can throw me rights
But where was you last night?
Beating around the bush

[Verse 2]
Wish I knew what's on your mind
And why you're being so unkind
Remember those nights we spent alone
Talking on the telephone?
Thoughts of you go through my brain
Told me that you felt the same
Don't say that you love me too
Tell me who would lie with you?

[Chorus 2]
I was talking birds
And you was talking bees
Or was he down upon his knees?
Beating around the bush

[Guitar Solo 1]

[Verse 3]
You're the meanest woman I've ever known
Sticks and stones won't break my bones
I know what you're looking for
You've eaten your cake, you want some more
I'm gonna give you just a one more chance
Try to save our romance
Done everything I'm going to do
The rest is up to you

[Chorus 3]
And you can chew it up
And you can spit it out
Let it all hang out
Beating around the bush

[Guitar Solo 2]

[Outro]
Chew it up
Spit it out
Let it all hang out
Beating around the bush



All comments from YouTube:

@intensemedusa1135

I’ll never understand how this isn’t one of their biggest songs

@victormoon2349

Highway to Hell was there #1 song as fans polls.

@jeffmosier6014

@Victor Moon I think that may be up for dispute as I have always heard and read it was "Back in black." Jus saying.

@bradhagemyer7722

It is !

@bradhagemyer7722

My favorite soundcheck tune

@alexandersturm78

It is their biggest song ever but not their most famous...

58 More Replies...

@gometricusa

They NEVER compromised, EVER. No sappy love ballads, no commercial pablum, Just in your FACE, bone crushing, ball busting high energy ROCK AND ROLL. Incredible guitar tone too. A cranked up Plexi and a truck full of BADASSERY.

@0ktk

Malcolm's riffs are just so consistent and on point. No unnecessary overcomplicated sounds, never does more than he needs to. Just good, simple, pure melody.

@BlazinRiver1

take a listen to the song "Oh Well" by Fleetwood Mac.

@edcollins9377

@@BlazinRiver1 excellent jam, excellent riff. That was Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac!

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