Honey Hush
Big Joe Turner/Pluma Davis' Orchestra Lyrics

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Ah, let 'em roll like a big wheel
In a Georgia cotton field
Honey, hush

Now baby, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
I say come in this house baby, stop all that yackety yack
Come fix my supper, don't want no talkin' back

Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
I got news for you baby, you ain't nothin' but an alley cat

Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
When I leave this time, I ain't comin' back no more

Honey hush

I say come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
Come in here woman, stop all that yackety yack
Don't make me nervous, 'cause I'm holdin' a baseball bat

Singin' hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver

(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing, hi-yo silver away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Big Joe Turner's song "Honey Hush" are about a man who is frustrated with his partner's constant talking and wants her to be quiet. He tells her to come inside and fix his supper without any talking back. He warns her not to make him nervous because he is holding a baseball bat. In the chorus, he sings "honey hush" which is a phrase used to tell someone to be quiet.

The verse "Ah, let 'em roll like a big wheel in a Georgia cotton field" is a reference to the civil war when prisoners of war were forced to work on cotton plantations in Georgia. They would use a wagon wheel to crush the cotton, and the phrase "let 'em roll" means to keep working.

The lyrics also use the phrase "alley cat" to describe the woman the man is speaking to. This term was used in the 1950s to describe a woman who was promiscuous or sexually active. The man is essentially calling her untrustworthy and telling her to stop talking.

Overall, the lyrics of "Honey Hush" reflect a time in American history when gender roles were more defined and women were expected to submit to their husbands. The song also incorporates elements of blues and rock and roll, genres that were emerging at the time.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah, let 'em roll like a big wheel
Let things happen like a giant wheel moving forward with momentum

In a Georgia cotton field
In a cotton field in Georgia

Honey, hush
Please be quiet

Now baby, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
Please come inside and stop talking so much

I say come in this house baby, stop all that yackety yack
I'm telling you to come in this house and stop talking so much

Come fix my supper, don't want no talkin' back
Please make me dinner without complaining

Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
You keep talking nonsense

I got news for you baby, you ain't nothin' but an alley cat
You are unimportant and untrustworthy

Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
Stop crying, your tears don't affect me anymore

When I leave this time, I ain't comin' back no more
If I leave now, I won't be returning

I say come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
I'm telling you to come inside and stop talking so much

Come in here woman, stop all that yackety yack
Please come in here and stop talking so much

Don't make me nervous, 'cause I'm holdin' a baseball bat
Don't make me anxious because I'm holding a baseball bat

Singin' hi-yo, hi-yo silver
Singing a victory cry