Her career peaked in the late 1960s with a string of pop music hits. Her best-known hit, These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - which popularized and made her synonymous with Go-Go boots - was written by Lee Hazlewood. These Boots... has been covered by many artists such as Geri Halliwell, Megadeth, Jessica Simpson, Lil' Kim, Little Birdy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crispin Hellion Glover and KMFDM.
Nancy also co-starred in a number of films, including Roger Corman's The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern, and Speedway with Elvis Presley, made guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, and starred in a number of television specials, most notable among them the 1967 Emmy Award-winning special "Movin' with Nancy", in which she appeared with her father and his Rat Pack pals Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. In the 1970s, she slowed down her musical activity and ceased acting in order to concentrate on being a wife and mother. She returned to the studio in 1981 to record a country album with Mel Tillis called, Mel & Nancy.
At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy in their May 1995 issue, released a new CD, One More Time, and made guest appearances on TV shows to promote the new material.
Most Recently, the song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (originally recorded by Cher) was used on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's hit Kill Bill.
On July 28, 2006, for the film Another Gay Movie (2006), she released the song "Another Gay Sunshine Day" from the Another Gay Movie Soundtrack.
It Ain't Me Babe
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're lookin' for someone
Never weak but always strong
To protect you and to defend you
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Move lightly from the ledge, babe
Move lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and maybe more
But it still ain't me, babe
No, no, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Go melt back into the night, babe
Everything inside here is made of stone
Well, there's nothing in here that's moving
And anyway I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
Pick you up every time you fall
Someone to gather flowers constantly
And come at the time you call
A lover for your life an' what more
But it still ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
The song begins with the singer asking someone to leave her window and to leave at their own pace. She then tells the person that she is not the one they want or need. The person is looking for someone who is always strong and will protect them whether they are right or wrong. Someone who will open doors for them, but the singer is not that person.
The second verse continues with the singer telling this person to move lightly, as she is not the one they want and will only let them down. The person is looking for someone who will never leave them, who will close their eyes and heart for them, and someone who will even die for them. But the singer repeats that it is not her that they want.
In the final verse, the singer tells the person to go back into the night, because there is nothing in her that is moving and everything inside her is made of stone. The person is looking for someone to pick them up when they fall, someone who will constantly bring them flowers and come to them whenever they call. They are looking for a lover for life, but it is still not the singer that they are looking for.
The song is essentially about someone rejecting another person's advances because they do not meet the criteria that the other person is looking for in a partner. The song has been interpreted as being about a romantic relationship, but it could also be interpreted as being about any kind of relationship, such as a friendship or a professional relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Go away from my window
Leave my sight and move away from where I can see you
Leave at your own chosen speed
Leave on your own accord at a pace that you deem suitable
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the person whom you desire, dear
I'm not the one you need
I'm not the person who fulfills your necessities
You say you're lookin' for someone
You speak of your search for a particular someone
Never weak but always strong
Someone who is never feeble but always resolute
To protect you and to defend you
To shield and safeguard as well as contest on your behalf
Whether you are right or wrong
Irrespective of whether you are correct or incorrect
Someone to open each and every door
Somebody who would unlock and let you through every entrance
But it ain't me, babe
However, I am not that person, dear
No, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
No way, that person is certainly not me, dear
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
You are not seeking me, dear
Move lightly from the ledge, babe
Step away gently from that edge, dear
Move lightly on the ground
Walk softly and lightly on the earth
I will only let you down
I will eventually disappoint you
Who will promise never to part
Someone who assures they will never separate
Someone to close his eyes for you
A person who would shut their eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who would guard their emotions closely
Someone who will die for you
A person who will lay down their life for you
And maybe more
And perhaps even beyond that
Go melt back into the night, babe
Blend back into the darkness of the night, dear
Everything inside here is made of stone
Everything inside me is unfeeling and cold
Well, there's nothing in here that's moving
Nothing within me is stirring
And anyway I'm not alone
But in any case, I am not by myself
Pick you up every time you fall
Lift you up every instance you stumble
Someone to gather flowers constantly
Somebody who would regularly collect flowers for you
And come at the time you call
And be there instantly when you summon
A lover for your life an' what more
A sweetheart for your lifetime and anything else you might require
But it still ain't me, babe
Nevertheless, I am still not that person, dear
No, no, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
No, absolutely not, it certainly isn't me, dear
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
You are not searching for me, dear
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fairfax1960
Bought this album when it came out and loved it. The arrangements on some of the songs she covered were amazing. It's a great album. Thanks for posting this tune!!
beka26
LOVE this version with all my heart!
nanda fox
I love this song, great !!!
sian chetty
Written by Bob Dylan and beautifully sung by Miss Nancy.xx
Ronald Jones
Nancy does a beautiful rendition of "It Ain't Me Babe!" :)
John Rogan
wow....she has a great voice and delivery!
Pete Crosby
Good song, sung by a bloody talented singer!!
José
EXCELENTE SONG
manny4552
Millions of men like me were so in love with her!
martha sammaciccia
I think this is amazing! If you weren't a kid & listening to the radio in those days, you can't possibly make any judgements! Good job, Nancy! I forgot what a presence you were "back then."