Born on 27th April 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Peebles was discovered as a talent by Gene "Bowlegs" Miller of Hi Records during a 1968 trip to sit in singing with him at a Memphis, Tennessee, nightclub. A popular local bandleader, Miller was known for also helping other musicians, such as members of the Hi Rhythm Section, get their starts in the Memphis music industry. Peebles soon began writing and singing hits for the label, cowriting with label staff songwriter Don Bryant, whom she married in 1974. Peebles released a number of commercially successful and critically well received albums produced by Willie Mitchell on Hi Records throughout the 1970s, until the rise of disco in the late 1970s took her music out of the limelight. Hi Records was sold in 1977, but Peebles reunited with Willie Mitchell in 1989 to produce her comeback album, Call Me.
I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down
Ann Peebles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think you've got the perfect plan
To charm every girl you see
And play with everyone that you can
But I've got news for you,
I hope it won't hit you too hard
One of these days while you're at play
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, room by room
You think love is just fun and games
Trying to be a playboy
All you do is run around
Using hearts for play toys
You've been playing daddy, with every mama around
What you gonna say, when you look up one day
See your playhouse tumblin' down
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, room by room, mmm
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, room by room
Using play as play toys
Ann Peebles's song "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" is a message to an arrogant man who thinks he can use and manipulate women to get whatever he wants. It is a warning that he won't be able to get away with his playboy behavior for long, and that he will eventually be caught off guard and brought down. Peebles tells him that she is going to tear his playhouse down, room by room, indicating that she is going to dismantle his facade of charm and deceit one piece at a time.
Through this song, Peebles denounces the man's philandering ways, accusing him of treating love as nothing more than a game, and using women's hearts as toys. She warns him that his playboy lifestyle will not last forever, and that he will eventually face the consequences of his actions. The lyrics are a powerful statement about standing up to misogyny and refusing to tolerate disrespectful behavior towards women.
Overall, "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" is a bold and empowering song that advocates for self-respect, self-worth, and dignity in relationships. Its message is as relevant today as it was when it was first released in the 1970s, as it speaks directly to issues of gender inequality and misogyny that are still prevalent in society today.
Line by Line Meaning
You think you've got it all set up,
You believe you've got everything under control,
You think you've got the perfect plan
You believe you've devised the ideal scheme,
To charm every girl you see
You aim to impress and enchant every woman you come across,
And play with everyone that you can
You seek to toy with and manipulate anyone available,
But I've got news for you,
However, there is something I want to tell you,
I hope it won't hit you too hard
I hope the truth won't be too much for you to handle,
One of these days while you're at play
At some point, while you're occupied with your games,
I'm gonna catch you off guard
I'll surprise and catch you unprepared,
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, pretty soon
I'm going to demolish your place of play soon,
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down, room by room
I'm going to systematically dismantle your playhouse,
You think love is just fun and games
You view love as nothing more than entertainment,
Trying to be a playboy
You strive to be a charming and promiscuous man,
All you do is run around
You move from one person to another without any commitment,
Using hearts for play toys
You treat people's emotions as disposable objects for your amusement,
You've been playing daddy, with every mama around
You've been acting like a father figure with all the women you encounter,
What you gonna say, when you look up one day
What will you do or say when you finally face reality someday,
See your playhouse tumblin' down
And witness your world of play collapsed and shattered,
Using play as play toys
Using games and play as tools for manipulation and deceit,
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EARL RANDLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raceingdemon6464
You think you've got it all set up
You think you've got the perfect plan♥️
To charm every girl you see
And play with everyone that you can
But I've got news for you
I hope it won't hit you too hard♥️
One of these days while you're at play
I'm gonna catch you off guard
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down pretty soon♥️
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down room by room
You think love is just fun and games
Trying to be a playboy♥️
All you do is run around
Using hearts for play toys
You've been playing daddy with every mama around♥️
What you gonna say when you look up one day
See your playhouse tumblin down
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down pretty soon
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down room by room
I'm gonna tear your playhouse down room by room♥️
@randlebhz
My father wrote this song, Earl Randle. I love it!
@stephaniesmith7317
WOW! That's so cool. I'm gonna check out his work. I would imagine this is just one of many I would recognize. Does he also play any instruments?
@randlebhz
@Stephanie Smith yes plays that piano
@twatmunro
Your father created many timeless works of art -- for Ann Peebles, Al Green and many others. You should be very proud of him.
@DebbieTDP
🙏🏻💙
@randlebhz
@Twat Munro yes thanks I am so proud of my father.
@darrenwatsonmusic
The Hi studios sound is so perfect I can hear it on song after song over and over again and never tire of it.
@kimprivler898
Awesome Song! Awesome Singer!❤
@michaelmack1035
Love this. Classic 70s r&b. Paul Young put an 80s spin on this song 🎵
@johnbudway230
I never knew Paul Young wasn't the original artist