Hit the Road, Jack
"Buster Poindexter" is the pseudonym rock singer David Johansen adopted in … Read Full Bio ↴"Buster Poindexter" is the pseudonym rock singer David Johansen adopted in the mid-'80s for a semi-comic nightclub-singer act he began to perform. His "one hit wonder" song is entitled "Hot,Hot,Hot." Eschewing his hard rock solo career (which followed a stint as lead singer of the New York Dolls), Johansen turned up at the New York club Tramps in a tuxedo, with a band he dubbed The Banshees of Blue, and sang pop standards, jump blues, and various novelty material. Eventually, the act won him a record contract, resulting in a few albums on RCA, but it was basically a live attraction. Since then, Johansen has pursued an acting career, though he maintains The Buster persona, appearing, for example, in the Catskills in the summer of 1992.

Hit the Road Jack
Buster Poindexter Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more (what you say? )
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Whoa, Woman, oh woman, don't you treat me so mean
You're the meanest old woman I have ever seen
I guess if you said so, I'd have to pack my things and go (that's right)
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more (what you say? )
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Oh baby, oh baby, don't ya treat me this way 'cause I'll get back on my feet some day
I don't care if you do 'cause it's understood, you ain't got no money you just no good
I guess if you say so, I'd have to pack my things and go (that's right)
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Buster?
What you call me?
You are ridicules
Whoa
Why don't you just pack your little suitcase and go on back to Bogalusa (yeah)
Well I just may do that baby, I just may go hit the road and try to find myself
Find yourself? Well if you do, and when you do, get lost!
Who me?
That'right
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more (what you say? )
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more (baby please)
Don't you come back no more (you can not do this to me)
Don't you come back no more (oh baby please)
Don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more (but, but, but baby)
Don't you come back no more (oh baby please)
Don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more




Don't you come back no more
Don't you come back no more

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Hit the Road Jack" by Buster Poindexter tell a story of a couple's rocky relationship. The singer is fed up with being mistreated by his partner and is threatening to leave. He tells her that she is the meanest woman he has ever seen and that he will pack his things and hit the road if she keeps treating him this way. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more" as a way of emphasizing the singer's determination to leave.


The call-and-response structure of the song is particularly effective at conveying the singer's frustration. The verses are sung by Poindexter, while the woman's responses are provided by a backup vocal group. The repetition of the "Hit the road Jack" line in the chorus serves as a catchy refrain that sticks in the listener's head. Overall, the song is a fun and upbeat take on a familiar theme of romantic discord and breakup.


Line by Line Meaning

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more
Please leave and do not return, ever


Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more (what you say? )
I said, leave now and do not return, ever


Whoa, Woman, oh woman, don't you treat me so mean
Oh, woman, why do you treat me so badly?


You're the meanest old woman I have ever seen
You are the most unpleasant older woman I have ever met


I guess if you said so, I'd have to pack my things and go (that's right)
If you insist, I will leave (even though it's unfair)


Oh baby, oh baby, don't ya treat me this way 'cause I'll get back on my feet some day
Please don't continue treating me so poorly because I will recover from this one day


I don't care if you do 'cause it's understood, you ain't got no money you just no good
I don't care if you do treat me poorly, because I know you have no money and are not worth my time


Buster?
Hey, what did you call me?


What you call me?
What did you just call me?


You are ridicules
You are absurd and unreasonable


Why don't you just pack your little suitcase and go on back to Bogalusa (yeah)
You should leave now and go back to where you came from (Bogalusa)


Well I just may do that baby, I just may go hit the road and try to find myself
Well, maybe I will leave and go on a journey of self-discovery


Find yourself? Well if you do, and when you do, get lost!
If you do find yourself, don't come back here


Don't you come back no more (baby please)
I really do not want you to come back here (please)


Don't you come back no more (you can not do this to me)
I cannot allow you to return here (you cannot do this to me)


Don't you come back no more (oh baby please)
Please do not come back here (oh, baby)


Don't you come back no more
Do not return here (ever)


Don't you come back no more (but, but, but baby)
I know I messed up, but please don't leave (baby)


Don't you come back no more (oh baby please)
Please don't leave me (oh, baby)


Don't you come back no more
Do not return (ever)


Don't you come back no more
Don't return (ever)


Don't you come back no more
Please do not come back here (ever)


Don't you come back no more
Stay away (forever)


Don't you come back no more
Please leave and do not return (ever)




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE RAY CHARLES FOUNDATION DBA TANGERINE MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Percy Mayfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@The_DC_Kid

With all due respect for Ray Charles (TRULY, his is the original and is legendary), this is the most entertaining rendition of this song. Very skillfully choreographed and performed. I first saw him on Letterman, and before he performed I thought he was just some ridiculously attired nightclub singer who had a small following within NYC. And then he performed. OMG! I hadn't realized his appearance was precisely as he had intended. Buster is a HOOT!

@josie1776

The chorus is better here. Changing a little the time of the fourth "no more" was a brilliiant idea.

@gisellegazda3884

I love seeing David J. alongside Peter Boyle-two cool cats right there!

@Assiro051

Anyone else is listening to this gem in 2023 or am I the only one left?

@bobt7048

Nope! I love this song, next to the great Ray Charles, this version is the best!

@joanjett69697

I love how the horn section hits that quick note after they say ‘hit the road back’, so much

@rhiannoncarney9380

My favorite version of this song!

@jaws72158

I love this version and the Ray Charles version ,I can not say which is better excellent ,excellent, EXCELLENT !

@piakragh7676

Den allra bästa versionen!!!

@125steini

"I gonna try n find myself."
"Well, if you do, and when you do... GET LOST!"

LOL

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