Don't Play That Song
Aretha Franklin Lyrics


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Don't play that song for me
'Cause it brings back memories
The days that I once knew
The days that I spent with you

Oh, no, don't let em play it (oh, no)
It fills my heart with pain (it hurts)
Please, stop it right away
'Cause I remember just what he said

He said darlin' (darlin' I)
And I know that he lied (oh, he lied)
You know that you lied (oh, he lied to me)
You know that you lied, lied, you lied (to me)

Hey mister, don't play it no more
Don't play it no more
I can't stand it
Don't play it no more (no more), no more (no more), no more, whoa-whoa (can't stand it)

I remember on our first date (ooh)
He kissed me and he walked away (ooh)
I was only seventeen (ooh)
I'd never dream he'd be so mean (ooh)

He told me darling (darling, I love you)
Baby, baby, you lied (oh, did I need you)
You, you lied (darling, I love you)
You know that you lied (you lied), lied (you lied), lied (to me)

Oh-oh-oh, you lied (darling I love you)
You know that you lied, yeah (darling, I need you)
You know I know you lied (darling, I love you)

Darling, you lied (you lied) you lied (you lied) you lied, go on and hurt me
You lied (to me)
Oh, whoa-oh, you lied

Oh, baby don't play it no more (don't play it no more)
Don't do it, don't play it no more (for me), no more (for me)
I can't stand it no more (don't play it no more)





Oh hey, don't play it no more (don't play it no more)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Don't Play That Song" by Aretha Franklin express the emotions of a person who hears a song that brings back memories of a past relationship. The singer asks the person playing the song to stop because it fills her heart with pain and reminds her of the days she spent with the person who lied to her. The pain caused by hearing the song is so intense that the singer pleads with the person to stop playing it immediately.


The lyrics convey the hurt and disappointment that the singer experienced in the past. The first verse sets the tone for the song, and the pain that the person is feeling is evident in the repetition of the line “don't play that song for me.” The second verse talks about the memories of the first date and how the person lied to her, which leads to the chorus where she begs the person to stop playing the song.


Overall, this song is about the power of music and how it can bring back memories that we would rather forget. The singer is not asking for the song to stop playing because she doesn't like the melody or the lyrics. She is asking for it to stop playing because it reminds her of the past and the hurt that she experienced.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't play that song for me
Please don't play that song, because it brings back memories.


'Cause it brings back memories
Because it reminds me of the days that I spent with you.


The days that I once knew
The days I spent with you.


The days that I spent with you
The time I had with you.


Oh, no, don't let em play it (oh, no)
Please, don't let them play it.


It fills my heart with pain (it hurts)
It brings painful memories to my heart.


Please, stop it right away
Please, immediately stop playing the song.


'Cause I remember just what he said
Because I remember what my ex-lover said.


He said darlin' (darlin' I)
He called me 'darling'.


And I know that he lied (oh, he lied)
I know that he wasn't truthful.


You know that you lied (oh, he lied to me)
You know that he lied to me.


You know that you lied, lied, you lied (to me)
You know that he repeatedly lied to me.


Hey mister, don't play it no more
Sir, please don't play the song anymore.


I can't stand it
I can't bear to hear it.


Don't play it no more (no more), no more (no more), no more, whoa-whoa (can't stand it)
Please don't play it anymore, because I can't stand it.


I remember on our first date (ooh)
I remember our first date.


He kissed me and he walked away (ooh)
He kissed me then left me.


I was only seventeen (ooh)
I was just a teenager at the time.


I'd never dream he'd be so mean (ooh)
I never thought he would be so hurtful.


He told me darling (darling, I love you)
He said 'darling, I love you'.


Baby, baby, you lied (oh, did I need you)
Baby, you lied to me.


You, you lied (darling, I love you)
You lied to me, even though you said you loved me.


You know that you lied (you lied), lied (you lied), lied (to me)
You repeatedly lied to me.


Oh-oh-oh, you lied (darling I love you)
Oh, you lied to me.


You know that you lied, yeah (darling, I need you)
You know that you lied to me, even though I needed you.


You know I know you lied (darling, I love you)
You know that I know you lied to me.


Darling, you lied (you lied) you lied (you lied) you lied, go on and hurt me
Even though you lied to me, you continue to hurt me.


You lied (to me)
You lied to me.


Oh, whoa-oh, you lied
Oh, you lied to me.


Oh, baby don't play it no more (don't play it no more)
Oh, please don't play the song anymore.


Don't do it, don't play it no more (for me), no more (for me)
Don't play the song anymore, because it hurts me.


I can't stand it no more (don't play it no more)
I can't bear to hear it anymore, so please don't play it.


Oh hey, don't play it no more (don't play it no more)
Oh, hey, please don't play the song anymore.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ahmet Ertegun, Betty Nelson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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