Don't Answer The Door
B.B. King Lyrics


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Woman, I don't wanna a soul
Hangin' around my house when I'm not at home

Oh, I don't want a soul, baby
Hangin' around my house when I'm not at home
I don't want you to answer the door for nobody, baby
Oh, when you're home and you know you're all alone
I don't want your sister coming by
Because the little girl she talk too much
If she wanna come either visit us
Tell her to meet us Sunday down at the church

'Cause I don't want a soul, baby
Hangin' around my house when I'm not at home
Yes, I don't want you to answer the door for nobody, baby
Oh, when you're home and you know you're all alone

If your mother wanna visit us
Tell her I get home 'bout the break a day
And that's too late that visit anybody, baby
So tell her to please stay away

'Cause I don't want a soul, baby
Hangin' around my house when I'm not at home
Yes, I don't want you to open the door for anybody, baby
Oh, when you're home and you know you're all alone

Now if you feel a little sick, baby
And you know you're home all alone
I don't want the doctor at my house, baby
You just suffer 'til I get home

'Cause I don't want a soul, baby
Hangin' around my house when I'm not at home




Yes, I don't want you to open the door for nobody, baby
Yeah, when you're home all alone

Overall Meaning

In "Don't Answer The Door," B.B. King makes it clear that he doesn't want anyone but his beloved to be hanging around his house when he's not around. He repeats the phrase "I don't want a soul" several times in the song to emphasize his point. Despite the fact that he loves and trusts his partner, he expresses concern over what could happen if someone else comes to his home while she's there.


Specifically, he mentions that he doesn't want her sister to come over because she talks too much. He also tells her to discourage her mother from visiting because he won't be home until later and doesn't want anyone waiting for him. The only person he seems to be okay with is a friend who is meeting them at church on Sunday.


The lyrics showcase King's assertiveness and possessiveness when it comes to his home and his partner. He wants to maintain a certain level of control over his surroundings and who enters them. However, it can also be interpreted as a sign of his love and protection for his partner, as he doesn't want her to be alone or vulnerable while he's away.


Line by Line Meaning

Woman, I don't wanna a soul
I do not want anyone


Hangin' around my house when I'm not at home
Lurking around my house when I am not present


Oh, I don't want a soul, baby
I don't want anyone hanging around, my love


I don't want you to answer the door for nobody, baby
Please do not answer the door for anyone when you are alone, my love


Oh, when you're home and you know you're all alone
When you are at home and know that no one else is there


I don't want your sister coming by
I prefer for your sister not to visit


Because the little girl she talk too much
The reason being, she talks too much


If she wanna come either visit us
If she still intends to visit us


Tell her to meet us Sunday down at the church
Advise her to see us on Sundays at the church


'Cause I don't want a soul, baby
Because I do not want anyone around my dwelling


Yes, I don't want you to answer the door for nobody, baby
Please do not answer the door for anyone when you are alone, my love


If your mother wanna visit us
If your mother intends to visit us


Tell her I get home 'bout the break a day
Inform her that I arrive home at daybreak


And that's too late that visit anybody, baby
It is too late to visit anyone at that time, my love


So tell her to please stay away
Kindly ask her to refrain from visiting


Now if you feel a little sick, baby
If you happen to feel unwell, my love


And you know you're home all alone
When you are alone at home


I don't want the doctor at my house, baby
I do not want a doctor to be present at my home


You just suffer till I get home
You'll have to endure until I return home


Yeah, when you're home all alone
When you happen to be alone in our home


Yes, I don't want you to open the door for nobody, baby
Please do not open the door for anyone when you are alone, my love




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Franklin Johnson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@shawnjenkins8528

In love with a promiscuous woman will make a man sing the blues... BB King and Jack Daniels will take you to a different place ❤️

@tpr299

After last week Jack Daniels will really take you to a different place.

@WorldPeaceRecordings

What type woman do you like❤

@nathanmccloud3572

As a youngster growing up in the 50,s and 60,s my father had a blues Cafe, my mother would make fish dinners there, those were good times, and watching the old men get so drunk listening to the blues, they would grab their hankerchief and actually be crying,as I got older I begin to feel their pain

@nickwilson2872

Thanks for sharing your insight, internet stranger(sir)

@Pr3lude9

A group of us were having some drinks, playing music, and I decided to put this on. Not because I cared if anyone was interested but I wanted to hear it. Instantly everyone was enjoying it. Like King said, music is made for everybody to enjoy, and a musicians job is to put a smile on the listeners face. Such a great man, and so much feeling in his playing and singing. I miss him! R.I.P King.

@SonkleyFiz

sounds like a good time 😎

@NSBERRO

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@soulpower121

No doubt

@stuartlimbrick4187

I really miss him too Pr3lude9!

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