Who Do You Love
Bo Diddley Lyrics
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I use a cobra-snake for a necktie,
I got a brand new house on the roadside,
Made from rattlesnake hide,
I got a brand new chimney made on top,
Made out of a human skull,
Now come on take a walk with me, arlene,
And tell me, who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Tombstone hand and a graveyard mine,
Just 22 and I don't mind dying.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
I rode around the town, use a rattlesnake whip,
Take it easy arlene, don't give me no lip,
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Night was dark, but the sky was blue,
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew,
Heard a bump, and somebody screamed,
You should have heard just what I seen.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Arlene took me by my hand,
And she said oh bo, you know I understand.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
The lyrics to Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?" are vivid and full of mystique, portraying the persona of a man who seems to have it all – from a brand new house made of rattlesnake hide to a chimney with a human skull on top of it. He invites Arlene on a walk and repeatedly asks, "Who do you love?" The persona then claims to have a "Tombstone hand and a graveyard mind" and doesn't mind dying at the young age of twenty-two. He boasts about riding a lion to town and using a rattlesnake whip while telling Arlene to take it easy and not give him any lip. In the end, the persona witnesses something that he can't quite describe, but Arlene understands him regardless.
The lyrics' symbolic language portrays a larger-than-life character who is trying to win over Arlene with his unconventional lifestyle, machismo, and charisma. The line, "Who do you love?" seems to ask Arlene if she is impressed and interested in him. Moreover, the persona's mention of a "Tombstone hand and a graveyard mind" suggests him to be a rough-and-tumble kind of guy, unafraid of death, and with nothing to lose. The persona's ceremonial possessions, like the rattlesnake tie and chimney with a human skull, might symbolize his strength, fearlessness, and mystical powers. These items are not ordinary, and perhaps he wants Arlene to see him as equally extraordinary.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk forty-seven miles of barbed wire
I have endured great difficulties and struggles to get to where I am now.
I use a cobra snake for a necktie
I am not afraid of danger and am willing to take risks.
I got a brand new house on the roadside
I have acquired great wealth and success.
Made from rattlesnake hide
I have used unconventional, unique methods to achieve my goals.
I got a brand new chimney made on top
I have reached the top of my profession and have achieved great status.
Made out of a human skull
I am unafraid of using shocking or macabre imagery to express myself.
Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene
Join me on my journey and let's see where it takes us.
And tell me, who do you love?
Who is important to you, and who do you care about?
Tombstone hand and a graveyard mind
I am tough and have faced many challenges, but I am also quite reflective and contemplative.
Just twenty-two and I don't mind dying
I am young and still have much to experience in life, but I am also fearless and unafraid of death.
I rode a lion to town, used a rattlesnake whip
I am powerful and dominant, and I can handle dangerous situations with ease.
Take it easy Arlene, don't give me no lip
Relax and trust me, and don't argue or push back against my ideas.
Night was dark, but the sky was blue
Things may seem difficult or bleak, but there is always hope and beauty to be found.
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew
The world can be chaotic and unpredictable, but I am ready to handle it.
Heard a bump, and somebody screamed
I have experienced terror and pain, but I am still alive and fighting.
You should have heard just what I seen
I have seen and experienced things that are beyond your imagination.
Arlene took me by my hand
She is my partner and my confidante, and I trust her implicitly.
And she said ooo-wee, Bo, you know I understand
She supports me and empathizes with my struggles and my journey.
Who do you love?
In the end, relationships and love are what truly matter in life.
Who do you love?
Who are the people who make your life worth living and who you would do anything for?
Who do you love?
Who is important to you, and who do you want to spend your life with?
Who do you love?
Who matters most to you, and who can you rely on when times get tough?
Who do you love?
Who is the person who brings you the most joy and makes your life worth living?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind