I Don't Know
Ann and Kate McGarrigle Lyrics
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I don't mind, bein' a good neighbor
Lending my friends, a helpin' hand
I don't mind, doin' them a favor
Just as long as I don't include my man
'Cause a moment, I can't live without
People to help you, ya don't pay me back
As long as you understand, that I
Just don't lend my man, don't lend my man
You might say, I'm old fashioned
You might say I'm livin', livin' in hell
I ain't knockin', nobody else's pain
But that man's swappin', everythin' I had
You lovin' up your heart,
Keep my cloak deep in my heart
But when you're talkin bout using my man, girl
You're gonna look too far
I'll do anything for you,
Anything that I can
But I, just don't lend my man,
Don't lend my man
I'm a fool, I don't mind
See I know everybody needs
A little help some time
When you start talkin',
'bout worryin' where my love bounds
Girl, girl, ya don't love me wrong
I'll lend anything I got,
As long as you understand
That I, just don't lend my man
I don't lend my man
Borrow my booze, don't lend my man
Borrow my car, I don't lend my man
Borrow my money, I don't lend my man
Borrow my clothes
The song "I Don't Know" by Ann and Kate McGarrigle is a cautionary tale about protecting one's relationship and not lending one's partner to another person. The lyrics speak about the willingness to help others, but only if it does not involve lending out one's partner. The singer explains that she is willing to be a good neighbor and help her friends, but her man is off-limits. She notes that people don't pay her back when she helps them, which makes it all the more important to not include her man in any favors.
The chorus emphasizes the point: "I'll do anything for you, Anything that I can, But I just don't lend my man, Don't lend my man." The singer also mentions that she is willing to lend out other things like booze, cars, money, and clothes but draws the line at her man. She says that this may be considered old-fashioned, but she is not willing to compromise on this.
The song emphasizes the importance of boundaries in relationships and highlights the need to protect one's partner from being taken away by others. The upbeat tempo of the song contrasts with the serious message, which makes it a thought-provoking and catchy tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Bip Bam
Just an arbitrary phrase to open the song
I don't mind, bein' a good neighbor
I am happy to help my neighbours
Lending my friends, a helpin' hand
I do not mind helping my friends
I don't mind, doin' them a favor
I am willing to do favor for them
Just as long as I don't include my man
I do not want to lend my man to anyone
'Cause a moment, I can't live without
I cannot live without the presence of my man
People to help you, ya don't pay me back
People whom I help do not always repay me back
I give you everything I got
I give everything that I can
As long as you understand, that I
But you need to understand that I
Just don't lend my man, don't lend my man
Will not lend my man to anyone
You might say, I'm old fashioned
One might argue that I am outdated
You might say I'm livin', livin' in hell
One might also argue that I am living in a hellish situation
I ain't knockin', nobody else's pain
I do not judge other people's suffering
But that man's swappin', everythin' I had
But my man is exchanging everything that I own
You lovin' up your heart,
You are trying to make me feel good
Keep my cloak deep in my heart
But I am keeping my true feelings deep inside
But when you're talkin bout using my man, girl
But when you talk about borrowing my man
You're gonna look too far
You are going too far
I'll do anything for you,
I am willing to do anything for you
Anything that I can
Anything that I am able to do
But I, just don't lend my man,
But I will not lend my man
Don't lend my man
Under any circumstances
I'm a fool, I don't mind
I might be a fool, but I do not care
See I know everybody needs
Because I know that everyone needs
A little help some time
Sometimes a little help is necessary
When you start talkin',
But when you begin to talk about
'bout worryin' where my love bounds
Being worried about my love is
Girl, girl, ya don't love me wrong
Incorrect, you do not love me wrongly
I'll lend anything I got,
I will lend anything that I possess
As long as you understand
It is okay as long as you understand
That I, just don't lend my man
That I cannot lend my man under any circumstance
I don't lend my man
Not my man, not ever
Borrow my booze, don't lend my man
You can borrow my booze not my man
Borrow my car, I don't lend my man
You can borrow my car not my man
Borrow my money, I don't lend my man
You can borrow my money but not my man
Borrow my clothes
You can borrow my clothes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS ROBINSON, EARL RANDLE, WILLIE MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind