The Teenagers' first single, 1956's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", was also their biggest. After Lymon went solo in mid-1957, both his career and those of the Teenagers fell into decline. Lymon eventually fell into heroin addiction, and died in 1968 at the age of twenty-five.
You
Frankie Lymon Lyrics
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Anytime we have a date
But I love her, yes, I love her
Mmm, he's gonna walk up to my gate
And see if he can get it straight
Cause he wants her, he's gonna ask her
The way you're actin' lately makes me doubt
You's is still my baby, baby
Seems my flame in your heart's done gone out
A woman is a creature
That has always been strange
Just when you're sure of one
You find she's gone and made a change
Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Maybe baby's found somebody new
Or is my baby still my baby true?
Is you or is you ain't my baby, baby?
Baby boy, the way you're actin' lately makes me doubt
See here, who's been cuttin' me
You's is still my baby, baby
Baby boy, it seems my flame in your heart's done gone out
Oh, blackout
A woman is a creature
That has always been strange
Just when you're sure of one
You find she's gone and made a change
And took my change
Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Maybe baby's found somebody new
Maybe baby's found somebody
Is my baby still my baby true?
The song "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" performed by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers can be interpreted as a story about a man who is in love with a woman who is always late for their dates. Despite her tardiness, he still loves her and wants to make things right by asking her if she still loves him. The woman in question seems to have been acting differently lately, making the man doubt whether she still loves him. He asks her if she is still his baby, but wonders if she has found somebody else. He sings that women are creatures who are always changing, making it difficult for the man to be sure of her feelings. Ultimately, he seeks to know whether or not he still has her love.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a gal who's always late
My partner is someone who is always delayed
Anytime we have a date
We have arranged to meet on various occasions
But I love her, yes, I love her
But despite this, I am fond of her
Mmm, he's gonna walk up to my gate
He intends to approach my home
And see if he can get it straight
So that he can clarify whether he is mistaken in his suspicions
Cause he wants her, he's gonna ask her
Because he desires her, he'll inquire about her feelings
Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Are you still my companion or have you moved on?
The way you're actin' lately makes me doubt
Your recent demeanor causes me to question
You's is still my baby, baby
Are you still committed to me, my love?
Seems my flame in your heart's done gone out
It appears your love for me has faded
A woman is a creature
Females have always been mysterious individuals
That has always been strange
They frequently exhibit erratic behavior
Just when you're sure of one
Just as you believe you understand them
You find she's gone and made a change
You discover that they have altered their demeanor
Is you is or is you ain't my baby?
Are you still devoted to me, my love?
Maybe baby's found somebody new
Perhaps you have located a different partner
Or is my baby still my baby true?
Or are you still committed only to me?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Billy Austin, Louis Jordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind