Known in Northern soul circles as "The Human Percolator," blue-eyed soul sh… Read Full Bio ↴Known in Northern soul circles as "The Human Percolator," blue-eyed soul shouter Billy Harner was born and raised in Philadelphia, first emerging in 1964 with backing band the Expressions on the Lawn release "Anymore." His supporting unit proved short-lived, as the label of his follow-up, "Coney Island Wild Child," credited Harner alone, and in 1965 he signed to Cameo/Parkway to release "All Through the Night." After the release of 1966's "Let's Get in Line," Harner moved to the Kama Sutra imprint, where he recorded a series of cult-classic singles including "Homicide Dresser," "What About the Music," and the Northern soul favorite "Sally's Sayin' Somethin'," a minor hit that charted in Philadelphia, New York, and Los Angeles in the summer of 1967 but failed to gain national momentum. In late 1968, Harner signed to the local independent label Open/OR, where his debut release, the luminous ballad "A Message to My Baby," was licensed for wider distribution on Atlantic. Another Northern classic, the scorching Gamble-Huff track "I Struck It Rich" preceded the 1969 release of Harner's sole LP, She's Almost You. The album met the same discouraging fate as his previous releases, and after one final effort for the obscure 66 + 6 label, the Chris Kenner cover "Something You Got," the singer quit his music career to open his own barbershop in Camden, NJ. In the 1990s, Harner resurfaced on the East Coast oldies circuit. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Watch Your Step
Billy Harner Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You better take it easy, baby
Before you go away
You did me dirty
But you'll get yours one some day

You better (watch your step)
Talking about you (watch your step)
(watch your step)

(Watch your step)

Keep your eyes open wide
Cause you'll be hurting down inside
(Watch your step)

Give me all your money
Before you go away
Don't think I'm funny, honey
But gets yours some day

You better (watch your step)
(watch your step)
(Watch your step)
Talking about your girl
(Watch your step)
Because when you take your love from me
You're going to be fraught with misery
(Watch your step)

Listen, I'm going to miss you honey each and every night
But when I get myself together girl
I'm know I'm going to be all right

You better (watch your step)
Talking about you (watch your step)
(watch your step)
(watch your step)
Keep your eyes open wide
Cause you'll be hurting down inside
(Watch your step)
(Watch your step)
You better watch out baby

Everything you do
I'm going keep my eyes

Overall Meaning

on you

The song Watch Your Step by Billy Harner is a warning to a former lover who did him wrong. Harner sings that the person better take it easy before they go away and they will eventually get what's coming to them. The lyrics are straightforward and direct, with Harner telling the person to watch their step and keep their eyes open wide because they will be hurting down inside. He goes on to say that when the person takes their love away from him, they will be fraught with misery.

The tone of the song is that of a warning and a threat, but Harner also acknowledges his own pain in the situation. He says that he will miss the person each and every night, but he knows that he will be alright when he gets himself together. The song is a mix of sadness, anger, and resignation, with Harner warning the person that they better watch their step or they will face the consequences.

Overall, Watch Your Step is a classic R&B warning song that is still relevant today. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and betrayal and the need for justice and revenge.

Line by Line Meaning

You better take it easy, baby
You need to calm down and be careful, darling

Before you go away
Before you leave me for good

You did me dirty
You were unfaithful and hurt me badly

But you'll get yours one some day
You will eventually face the consequences of your actions

Keep your eyes open wide
Be aware of what's happening around you

Cause you'll be hurting down inside
You will feel a lot of emotional pain

Give me all your money
Pay me back what you owe me before you leave

Don't think I'm funny, honey
I'm not joking, my dear

But gets yours some day
But you will also face the consequences in the future

Talking about your girl
Referring to your lover

Because when you take your love from me
When you break up with me and leave me