But I Do
Keith and Renee Lyrics


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Incognito bandito

Well, I woke up this morning, it was drizzlin' rain
Around the curve come a passenger train
Heard somebody yodel and a hobo moan
Hey, Jimmy, he dead, he been a long time gone
He been a long time gone
A long time gone

If you wanna get to heaven, gotta D-I-E
You gotta put on your coat and T-I-E
You wanna get the rabbit out the L-O-G
You gotta make a cold motion like a D-O-G
Yeah, like a D-O-G
Like a D-O-G

I got a good woman, what's the matter with me?
What makes me wanna love every woman I see?
I was triflin' when I met her, now I'm triflin' again
Every woman, she see look like a place I came in
Look like a place I came in
Place a came in

Well I got my name painted on my shirt
I ain't no ordinary dude, I don't have to work
I don't have to work
I don't have to work

I woke up this morning, it was drizzlin' rain
'Round the curve come a passenger train
Heard somebody yodel and a hobo moan
I said, Jimmy, he dead, he been a long time gone
He been a long time gone
Yeah, a long time gone

And if you wanna get to heaven, gotta D-I-E
Man, you gotta put on your coat and T-I-E
You wanna get the rabbit out the L-O-G
You gotta make a cold motion like a D-O-G




Like a D-O-G
Yeah, like a D-O-G

Overall Meaning

The song "But I Do" by Keith and Renée is a blend of country and folk music with an upbeat tempo. It tells the story of a man trying to make sense of life's contradictions while being a wanderlust at heart. The opening verse describes a drizzly morning, and the man hears a train pass by. He mentions a yodel and a hobo's moan while referring to a departed friend named Jimmy. The lyrics have some metaphors, and the 'Incognito Bandito' may refer to the man's alter ego when he hits the road.


The chorus asserts that to get to heaven, one must die, and to be successful in life, one has to work hard. However, the man sees himself as an exception in society who doesn't have to work for a living. In the second verse, he introduces his love interest, who he describes as a good woman, but something inside him makes him want to love every woman he sees. He then reveals that he was unfaithful once but is now continuing his habits of flirting with every woman he comes across.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I woke up this morning, it was drizzlin' rain
The singer woke up to a rainy day


Around the curve come a passenger train
The singer saw a train travelling around a bend


Heard somebody yodel and a hobo moan
The singer heard someone singing in a yodelling style and a homeless person groaning


Hey, Jimmy, he dead, he been a long time gone
The artist announced that Jimmy has passed away and was gone for a long time


If you wanna get to heaven, gotta D-I-E
To reach heaven, one has to die


You gotta put on your coat and T-I-E
To be presentable, you need to wear a coat and tie


You wanna get the rabbit out the L-O-G
To catch a rabbit, you need to remove it from its hiding place


You gotta make a cold motion like a D-O-G
You need to act like a dog and move slowly to not scare away the rabbit


I got a good woman, what's the matter with me?
The artist has a great partner, but still has the urge to pursue others


What makes me wanna love every woman I see?
The artist is curious about why he's attracted to every woman he sees


I was triflin' when I met her, now I'm triflin' again
The singer cheated on their partner before and has the same desire once more


Every woman, she see look like a place I came in
The artist sees every woman he meets as an opportunity for a sexual encounter


Well I got my name painted on my shirt
The singer has their name displayed on their clothing


I ain't no ordinary dude, I don't have to work
The singer is not a regular person and does not have to do standard labour


I woke up this morning, it was drizzlin' rain
The singer woke up to another rainy day


'Round the curve come a passenger train
Another train passed by


I said, Jimmy, he dead, he been a long time gone
The artist affirmed that Jimmy has already passed away


And if you wanna get to heaven, gotta D-I-E
To reach heaven, one has to die


Man, you gotta put on your coat and T-I-E
To be presentable, you need to wear a coat and tie


You wanna get the rabbit out the L-O-G
To catch a rabbit, you need to remove it from its hiding place


You gotta make a cold motion like a D-O-G
You need to act like a dog and move slowly to not scare away the rabbit




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roger Miller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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