Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
Billie Holiday Lyrics


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Someone told someone and someone told you
But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
Since everyone spread the story
With his own little personal touch

Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Is over my head
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill
But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will
Do nothin' till you hear from me

Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream
Is over my head
Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
I haven't a chance
True I've been seen with someone new
But does that mean that I'm untrue
When we're apart the words in my heart
Reveal how I feel about you
Some kiss may cloud my memory
And other arms may hold a thrill




But please do nothin' till you hear it from me
And you never will

Overall Meaning

Billie Holiday's song "Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me" is a warning to her lover not to believe everything he hears about her from other people. She has been seen with someone new, but she insists that it does not mean she is untrue to him. She advises him to pay no attention to the gossip and wait until he hears from her directly before making any decisions about their relationship. She also suggests that people who spread rumors and tear apart other people's dreams are beyond her understanding.


The use of the word "seam" in the second stanza is particularly interesting. It suggests that the rumors about her lover and herself are like stitches in their relationship, pulling it apart at the seams. By warning him not to pay attention to what others are saying, Holiday is suggesting that this could be prevented if they didn't give credence to these whispers. She seems to be saying that it is more important to focus on what they have between them than to listen to the potentially damaging words of outsiders.


Holiday's vocals are especially noteworthy in this song, showcasing her ability to create a mood and build tension. Her subtle phrasing emphasizes the lyrics' meaning and the drawn-out delivery of the final line, "and you never will," leaves an imprint on the listener. Overall, the song's message is timeless and relatable, reminding us that rumors and hearsay can wreak havoc on our personal relationships if we allow them to.


Line by Line Meaning

Someone told someone and someone told you
Rumors have been spread by many people and have eventually reached you.


But they wouldn't hurt you, not much
These rumors may not have been spread maliciously or with the intention of hurting you.


Since everyone spread the story with his own little personal touch
As the story was passed along, each person added their own interpretation or embellishment to it.


Do nothin' till you hear from me
Don't believe or act on the rumors until you have heard directly from me.


Pay no attention to what's said
Ignore the rumors and don't let them affect your thoughts or emotions.


Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head
I don't understand why people feel the need to spread hurtful rumors that could damage someone else's aspirations or relationships.


At least consider our romance
Please don't let the rumors affect our relationship without first hearing from me.


If you should take the word of others you've heard, I haven't a chance
If you believe the rumors without talking to me, our relationship doesn't stand a chance.


True I've been seen with someone new, but does that mean that I'm untrue
It's true that I've been spending time with someone else, but that doesn't mean I'm being unfaithful to you.


When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you
When we're not together, my true feelings for you are expressed in my thoughts and written words.


Some kiss may cloud my memory and other arms may hold a thrill
Some temporary moments of passion may have clouded my judgment, but my true feelings and commitment remain the same.


But please do nothin' till you hear it from me, and you never will
Don't act on any rumors, because they aren't true and you won't hear confirmation of them directly from me.




Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, BOB RUSSELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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