Hit The Road Jack
Horn Shirley Lyrics


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(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.)

Woah Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean,
You're the meanest old woman that I've 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.)

Now baby, listen baby, don't ya treat me this-a way
Cause I'll be back on my feet some day.
(Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood)
(you ain't got no money you just ain't no good.)
Well, 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.)
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.)

Well
(don't you come back no more.)
Uh, what you say?
(don't you come back no more.)
I didn't understand you
(don't you come back no more.)
You can't mean that
(don't you come back no more.)
Oh, now baby, please
(don't you come back no more.)
What you tryin' to do to me?
(don't you come back no more.)




Oh, don't treat me like that
(don't you come back no more.)

Overall Meaning

"HIt the Road Jack" is a song by Ray Charles that was released in 1960, and later covered by Horn Shirley in 1961. The song is about a man who has been mistreated by a woman who is now asking him to leave. The lyrics are straightforward and blunt, with the singer telling the man to hit the road and never come back. The repetition of the chorus highlights the woman's dismissal of the man, making it clear that he is unwanted. The song's use of call and response between the male and female vocals conveys the characters' argument.


The song reflects a common theme in blues and soul music of the time, the tension between men and women in relationships. The man is portrayed as vulnerable, pleading for the woman's love, while the woman is seen as cold and hard-hearted. The lyrics suggest the man has been cheated on or treated unfairly, highlighting the pain and anger that can occur in relationships. At the same time, the woman's rejection of the man suggests that sometimes it's better to walk away than stay in a bad situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.
I want you to leave and never come back, not even once.


Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.
I really mean it, go away and don't return.


What you say?
Can you repeat what you just said to me?


Woah Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean, You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen.
You are really treating me unkindly and being extremely cruel to me.


I guess if you said so I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)
If you really meant it and asked me to leave, I would have to get my things and go.


Now baby, listen baby, don't ya treat me this-a way, Cause I'll be back on my feet some day.
Please don't treat me like this because I will recover eventually and be able to stand on my own again.


(Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood) (you ain't got no money you just ain't no good.)
I don't care what you do because it is well-known that you are broke and not valuable.


Well, I guess if you say so I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)
If you insist that I leave, then I will do so because you can be very convincing.


Uh, what you say?
Could you please repeat that, I didn't hear you clearly.


I didn't understand you
I didn't hear what you said.


You can't mean that
I don't think you really mean what you just said.


Oh, now baby, please
Please, my dear, don't be so harsh with me.


What you tryin' to do to me?
What are you attempting to do to me?


Oh, don't treat me like that
Please don't treat me in a such a mean way.


(don't you come back no more.)
I insist that you not come back here again.




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

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