Steppin' Out
Memphis Slim Lyrics
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You do what you please
Never let on, that even once
That you've ever been lonely
It's nice to see you alone
Are you lookin' for somethin'
Maybe you ain't gettin' at home?
You're dressin' to kill
Your old man has promised
When he died he would leave you his money
And the pool where you swim
Are you lookin' for somethin'
Maybe you ain't gettin' from him?
Steppin' out, steppin' out
To get a little action on the side
Steppin' out, steppin' out
The day time queen takes a midnight ride
And it's plain as plain can be
You're a woman who wants to get free
If you're steppin' out tonight, honey,
Come on and step out with me
The party's a bore
It's bound to get worse
Let's sneak out somewhere
And engage in our own celebration
Will you pour me some wine?
Are you thinkin', baby, maybe
Your needs are the same as mine?
Wanna go for a walk,
Go for a ride,
Maybe just stand here and think
What we can do to each other
No, we don't have to dance
If you're thinkin' of steppin' out
Baby, this is your chance
Steppin' out, steppin' out
To get a little action on the side
Steppin' out, steppin' out
The day time queen takes a midnight ride
And it's plain as plain can be
You're a woman who wants to get free
If you're steppin' out tonight, honey,
Come on and step out with me
In Memphis Slim's song "Steppin' Out," the lyrics describe the persona of a woman who appears to have everything, but most importantly, freedom. The song starts by emphasizing the woman's independence and boldness. It suggests that she is not afraid to go where she wants and do what she pleases without showing any signs of loneliness. The second verse highlights her lavish lifestyle, including her hair and glamorous dress, suggesting that wealth is not an issue. However, the lyrics imply that she is not content with her relationship, wondering if she's looking for something that she's not getting at home.
The song offers a possible solution for this woman - to step out with the singer. The chorus repeats the phrase "steppin' out" twice, echoing the idea that the woman wants to do something different and go beyond her boundaries. The last verse proposes a break from the boring party that the persona is attending and suggests running away for their own celebration. Overall, "Steppin' Out" is a song about seeking liberation and independence while acknowledging one's true desires.
Line by Line Meaning
You go where you want
You have the freedom to go wherever you please
You do what you please
You are in control of your own actions and decisions
Never let on, that even once
That you've ever been lonely
You hide your feelings of loneliness from others
It's nice to see you alone
I enjoy seeing you by yourself
Are you lookin' for somethin'
Maybe you ain't gettin' at home?
Are you searching for something that you are not receiving at home?
Your hair is in place
Your hair is meticulously styled
You're dressin' to kill
You are wearing clothing that is meant to attract attention and admiration
Your old man has promised
When he died he would leave you his money
And the pool where you swim
Your husband has promised to leave you his wealth and assets, including the pool you swim in
Are you lookin' for somethin'
Maybe you ain't gettin' from him?
Are you seeking something that is not being provided by your husband?
Steppin' out, steppin' out
To get a little action on the side
Steppin' out, steppin' out
The day time queen takes a midnight ride
Going out to seek some extramarital excitement, as the day-time queen takes a late-night excursion
And it's plain as plain can be
You're a woman who wants to get free
It's obvious that you want to experience freedom and break free from your current situation
If you're steppin' out tonight, honey,
Come on and step out with me
If you're going to be seeking some fun outside of your marriage tonight, why not come with me?
The party's a bore
It's bound to get worse
Let's sneak out somewhere
And engage in our own celebration
The party is dull, and it's only going to become more monotonous. Let's leave and have our own party somewhere else
Will you pour me some wine?
Are you thinkin', baby, maybe
Your needs are the same as mine?
Can you pour me a glass of wine? I wonder if you have similar needs to mine
Wanna go for a walk,
Go for a ride,
Maybe just stand here and think
What we can do to each other
Do you want to take a walk or drive somewhere, or maybe just stay here and think about what we can do together?
No, we don't have to dance
If you're thinkin' of steppin' out
Baby, this is your chance
We don't have to dance if you're planning on being unfaithful. This is your chance to do so
Steppin' out, steppin' out
To get a little action on the side
Steppin' out, steppin' out
The day time queen takes a midnight ride
Going out to seek some extramarital excitement, as the day-time queen takes a late-night excursion
And it's plain as plain can be
You're a woman who wants to get free
It's obvious that you want to experience freedom and break free from your current situation
If you're steppin' out tonight, honey,
Come on and step out with me
If you're going to be seeking some fun outside of your marriage tonight, why not come with me?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BRACKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Morelli
Never heard this before. I can definitely hear that Clapton paraphrased the 'rakes' lick.
Rapid Rhino Plumbing - Monrovia
This is the DNA for Claptons version guys . Listen up. Its all there.
mrdavidlopan
The original and still the best...
Robert Barrett
Always like the original.......all songs.
taildragger53
R.I.P. Matt Guitar Murphy 1929- June 16th 2018
Trinidadjame$
So Clapton was playing the sax line genius
DeanMk1
That's an old guitar players trick. Chuck Berry made a carreer out playing horn lines on his guitar.
DistantLights
Yeh, and that amp Clapton used made his sound so much fuller, I guess to closer imitate the sax line. I also remember reading about how Jack Bruce once said that he and Ginger Baker were basically just playing jazz-lite in rock form with Clapton as their version of Ornette Coleman.
DeanMk1
@DistantLights Clapton's use of pairing the Les Paul guitar with the Marshall amp, when he was playing with John Mayall, started the popularity of using that amp in pop music.
DistantLights
@DeanMk1 Oh yeh, and you can see why from listening to the Beano album. The sound is so much bigger than the other guitarists at the time.