Nothin' Better To Do
LeAnn Rimes Lyrics


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Hung my cotton dress on rusted wire
Up there on Pilahatchee Bridge
Just a crazy roughneck's daughter
Jumped head-first into the water
Baptized away my sins

Hitched to town with Bobby Jo and Tommy
Couple of lookers, new best friends
We slipped in the back of Sunday service
Know them church ladies, they heard us
Bum smoke money from the offering

Mama said, "Idle hands are Devil's handy work"
Oh, the trouble you'll get into
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
Yea yea yea yea

Oh, yeah

Sign read: bait, chips beer and ammunition
That Slim-Jim bag boy hadn't a prayer
Well I hiked my skirt and did the talkin'
While them boys were busy walkin'
Case of .5 out the back door

Hid deep in the Mississippi backwoods
We danced and played around 'til dark
Well I had them wrestlin' for my first kiss
Turned into a fight and they missed
Me speeding off in Tommy's car

Mama said, "Idle hands are Devil's handy work"
Oh, the trouble you'll get into
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
Yea yea yea yea

Nobody hurt, nobody harmed
Nobody's busines but my own

Mama said, "Idle hands are Devil's handwork
Oh, the trouble you'll get into!"
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
Yea yea yea yea

Oh, yeah
Got nothin' better to do, babe
Got nothin' better to do
You got nothin' better to do, babe
Ya got nothin' better to do, no no
Got nothin' better to do!
Ya got nothin' better to do, no no




Got nothin' better to do!
You got nothin' better to do, no no!

Overall Meaning

In "Nothin' Better To Do," LeAnn Rimes recounts the wild and rebellious moments of her youth. She starts by describing how she hung her cotton dress on rusted wire, jumped from the Pilahatchee Bridge head-first. This act of defiance seemed to have cleansed her of her sins. Then, she narrates how she hitched a ride to town with two boys named Bobby Jo and Tommy, who she hangs out with, at Sunday service. The church ladies did not approve of them and heard them scheming to bum money from the offering. The lyrics narrate how they got into mischief at a bait and tackle shop, where she distracted the shopkeeper, and they stole some .5 cases of beer.


LeAnn talks about driving away with Tommy from Bobby Jo, and they ended up wrestling for her first kiss. However, they missed her speeding away in Tommy's car. She mentions how no one was hurt, and it was nobody else's business but her own. Mama warned her that idle hands are the Devil's plaything and that she was getting into trouble. Despite the warning, LeAnn continues doing what she does because she has "got nothin' better to do."


This song tells the story of a rebellious teenager who wants to explore life outside of the constraints placed upon her by society. She craves adventure and excitement and doesn't mind getting into trouble. In the end, however, no one is harmed, and she goes her way without any issue. The overall message of this song is to enjoy life while you can, and don't let anyone stop you from doing so.


Line by Line Meaning

Hung my cotton dress on rusted wire
The singer hangs her dress on a rusted wire at Pilahatchee Bridge.


Up there on Pilahatchee Bridge
The singer is at the Pilahatchee Bridge.


Just a crazy roughneck's daughter
The singer is a daughter of a roughneck.


Jumped head-first into the water
The artist jumps into the water headfirst.


Baptized away my sins
The artist feels relieved of her sins after jumping in the water.


Hitched to town with Bobby Jo and Tommy
The singer went to town with her new friends Bobby Jo and Tommy.


Couple of lookers, new best friends
The singer thinks her new friends are good-looking and best friends with her.


We slipped in the back of Sunday service
The artist and her friends sneak into the Sunday service from the back door.


Know them church ladies, they heard us
The artist believes the church ladies noticed their presence and talks about them.


Bum smoke money from the offering
The artist and her friends steal money from the offering to buy cigarettes.


Mama said, "Idle hands are Devil's handy work"
The singer's mother advises her that idleness may lead to wrongdoing.


Oh, the trouble you'll get into
The artist's mother warns her about the possible consequences of idleness.


You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
The singer is aware that she has nothing else to do.


Yea yea yea yea
The singer says this with enthusiasm.


Sign read: bait, chips beer and ammunition
The singer sees a sign advertising bait, chips, beer, and ammunition.


That Slim-Jim bag boy hadn't a prayer
The artist thinks the Slim-Jim bag boy has no chance with her.


Well I hiked my skirt and did the talkin'
The artist uses her physical charm to talk to the boys.


While them boys were busy walkin'
The singer's distraction allows her friends to steal a case of .5 out the back door.


Case of .5 out the back door
The singer's friends steal a case of .5 from a place.


Hid deep in the Mississippi backwoods
The artist and her friends hide in the backwoods of Mississippi.


We danced and played around 'til dark
The artist and her friends dance and play till it gets dark.


Well I had them wrestlin' for my first kiss
The artist makes the boys fight for her first kiss.


Turned into a fight and they missed
The boys fight but do not kiss her.


Me speeding off in Tommy's car
The artist takes off with Tommy's car.


Nobody hurt, nobody harmed
No one is injured or hurt.


Nobody's busines but my own
The singer believes that nobody should interfere or judge her actions.


You got nothin' better to do, got nothin' better to do
The singer recalls that she has nothing better to do.


Yea yea yea yea
The artist says this with enthusiasm.


Oh, yeah
An exclamation of agreement, interest or satisfaction.


Got nothin' better to do, babe
The singer admits she has nothing else to do.


Ya got nothin' better to do, no no
The singer invites the listener to admit they got nothing better to do.


Got nothin' better to do!
The artist restates that she got nothing better to do.


Ya got nothin' better to do, no no
The artist invites the listener again to state that they got nothing better to do.


Got nothin' better to do!
The artist ends the song by repeating that she got nothing better to do.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, MIKE CURB MUSIC
Written by: Darrell R Brown, Dean Allen Sheremet, LeAnn Rimes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@heliaalves9062

"Nothin' Better To Do"

Hung my cotton dress on rusted wire
Up there on Pelahatchie bridge
Just a crazy roughnecks daughter
Jumped head first into the water
Baptized away my sins

Hitched to town with Bobby Jo and Tommy
Couple of lookers new best friends
We slipped in back of Sunday service
Know them church ladies they heard us
Bum smoke money from the offering

Mamma said "Idle hands are
Devil's handy work"
Oh the trouble you'll get into
When you got nothin' better to do, got nothing better to
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Sign read bait, chips, beer and ammunition
That slim-Jim bag boy hadn't a prayer
I hiked my skirt and did the talkin'
While them boys were busy walkin'
Case of .5 out the back door

Hid deep in the Mississippi back woods
We danced and played around til' dark
I had them wrestling for my first kiss
Turned into a fight and they missed
Me speeding off in Tommy's car

Mamma said "Idle hands are
Devil's handy work"
Oh the trouble you'll get into
When you got nothin' better to do, got nothing better to
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Nobody hurt, nobody harmed
Nobody's business but my own

Mamma said "Idle hands are
Devil's handy work"
Oh the trouble you'll get into
When you got nothin' better to do, got nothing better to
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@rollanrand

Whoever put this video and choreography together is a genius....GENIUS! LeeAnn shined too!

@aj_jk1337

She directed the video iirc. Choreography maybe by somebody else but yeah she rocks.

@stealurcookies

@AJ Keeneu are right, it was her debut directing :)

@williampaz2092

@StealUrCookies she ACED it!

@Grizzlied555

​@@aj_jk1337This is country, not rock.

@angelamorrow8973

@@aj_jk1337choreography was her ex husband.

@tammydillander8992

She is amazing she does not need any help sounding better like the rest do..

@sharleencronje8132

DANG! LeAnn did THIS long before Carrie - the sass, the attitude... LeAnn surely is the most under-rated female artist that emerged in the last thirty years!

@ryansgirl2002

Exactly! Not to mention, Carrie Underwood looks exactly like a white George Foreman and I can't get over it. 😂

@SunShine-ye6ik

Agree!

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