Chilton said in the September 1994 issue of Guitar Player that he considers himself a "musical performer, not a songwriter" and that some of his songs sound only "half-baked" to him. Nonetheless, his compositions have been performed by a number of artists, including Teenage Fanclub, This Mortal Coil, The Bangles, Wilco, Graham Coxon, Garbage, Tom Bradbury, Son Volt, Counting Crows, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Superdrag, Evan Dando, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Placebo, Xiu Xiu, and His Name Is Alive. The Replacements wrote the song Alex Chilton in his honor on their 1987 Pleased to Meet Me album, produced by Jim Dickinson in Memphis.
On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack in a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59.
Don't Stop
Alex Chilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It’s like a bomb drops
Tearing apart
All of my props
Baby don’t stop
Yeah you got me
Where you want me
Just walk through it
Yeah but don’t stop
Keep it going
Oh baby keep on
What you’re doing
Has never been done
Baby don’t stop
Whatever you do
Don’t stop it
Cause if you’re through
You’re gonna flop
There you are dear
In that get up
Come on and love me
And don’t let up
Baby don’t stop
In "Don't Stop" by Alex Chilton, the lyrics depict a relationship where the singer is vulnerable to the other person's actions. The song starts with the feeling of something explosive happening as the person starts something new in the relationship. The props being torn apart can be interpreted as one's defense mechanism being destroyed as they surrender to the influence of the other person. The person is unreliable when it comes to giving in to the actions, but they want the other person to keep going nonetheless. This shows that the singer is willing to be in this particular relationship, no matter how uncertain or unpredictable it may be. The song implies that if the other person stops, the singer will not have anything to stand on, and their world will fall apart.
The chorus of the song emphasizes on not stopping the things that the other person is doing, as it has a significant impact on the singer's life. The singer cannot live without the other person and their actions, and they beg them not to stop whatever they're doing. The line "cause if you're through, you're gonna flop" indicates that if the other person ends the relationship or stops doing certain things, the singer would not be able to cope, and their life would be ruined.
In the last verse, the singer asks the other person to come closer and not let go. The lyrics "baby don't stop" convey the need for the other person to continue doing whatever it takes to keep this relationship going. The song ends on this note, implying that the singer is willing to do anything to keep the relationship with the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah when you start
At the beginning of our interaction,
It's like a bomb drops
It feels like a sudden explosion of energy and excitement.
Tearing apart
Breaking down
All of my props
The walls and barriers I've built up around myself.
Baby don't stop
Please continue, don't slow down.
Yeah you got me
You have caught my attention and interest.
Where you want me
I'm ready to follow your lead.
You can do it
You have the ability to keep me engaged.
Just walk through it
Just keep moving forward, don't hesitate.
Yeah but don't stop
Again, please continue without slowing down.
Keep it going
Maintain this level of intensity and excitement.
Oh baby keep on
Please don't cease or slow down.
What you're doing
The actions you're taking to keep me engaged.
Has never been done
I haven't experienced anything quite like this before.
Baby don't stop
Once again, please continue without slowing down.
Whatever you do
No matter what steps you take next.
Don't stop it
Don't halt or slow down the momentum you have started.
Cause if you're through
If you come to a stop or conclusion.
You're gonna flop
The energy and excitement we've built up will disappear.
There you are dear
Here you are, in front of me.
In that get up
In that outfit or attire.
Come on and love me
Approach me and show me affection.
And don't let up
Continue to present that energy and excitement.
Baby don't stop
One more time, please don't slow down or stop.
Contributed by Cole C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.