She sang backing vocals on the Van Halen song "Could This Be Magic?" and on Neil Young's recording of Ian Tyson's folk classic "Four Strong Winds".
Born in Helena, Montana, Larson got her start singing with Hoyt Axton's band and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. She worked as a session vocalist for Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Young, Christopher Cross, Little Feat, Mary Kay Place, The Dirt Band, The Beach Boys and The Doobie Brothers. In 1979, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. She also had a minor role in the 1988 film Twins.
In December 1997, she died in Los Angeles from complications arising from a cerebral edema at the age of 45. She was survived by her husband Russell Kunkel and her daughter Elsie May Larson-Kunkel (born 1990), who has also found some entertainment experience.
Larson is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Baby Don't You Do It
Nicolette Larson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't break my heart, please don't do it
Don't ya break my heart
I sacrifice to make you happy
Kept nothin' for myself
Now you want to leave me
For the love of someone else
I need you, baby, to keep on keepin' on
Baby, I'm tryin' to do my best
I'm tryin' to do my best, don't do it
Don't break my heart, please don't do it
Don't ya break my heart
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
I'm lettin' you know
Now you've got me where you want me
And you won't let me go
My heart was made glad when you strolled, you see
How much heartache and misery you've been causin' me
I'm tryin' to do my best
I'm tryin' to do my best
Don't do it, don't break my heart
Please don't do it, don't ya break my heart
Go down to the river and there I'll be
I'm gonna jump in, boy, if you don't see by me
Open up your eyes; can't you see I love you?
Open up your heart; can't you see I need you?
Baby don't you do it, don't do it
Don't break my heart, please don't do it
Don't ya break my heart
Nicolette Larson's song "Baby Don't You Do It" is a plea to her lover, begging him not to break her heart. The song’s lyrics are simple yet powerful, as Larson sings about how much she has sacrificed to make her lover happy but is now at risk of losing everything. The song is full of emotions, and the lyrics convey feelings of desperation and vulnerability.
The opening verse sets up the storyline, as Larson pleads with her lover not to break her heart. She acknowledges that she has sacrificed everything for him and kept nothing for herself. She is determined to keep their relationship going and does not want him to leave her for someone else. However, she feels vulnerable as she has no pride left and needs her lover's love to keep going. The following verses tell a story of heartbreak and vulnerability, as Larson pours out her emotions.
The chorus emphasizes the main theme of the song, which is that she needs her lover to stay with her and not break her heart. The final lines of the song are a plea for her lover to open up his heart and see how much she loves and needs him.
Overall, the song’s message is universal as it speaks to the frailty of human relationships and how much we need each other in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby don't you do it, don't do it
Please, I beg you, don't do whatever you are thinking of doing
Don't break my heart, please don't do it
I implore you not to hurt me emotionally or ruin our relationship
Don't ya break my heart
I am emphasizing the importance of you not breaking my heart
I sacrifice to make you happy
I have given up a lot for you and your happiness
Kept nothin' for myself
I have not taken care of my own wants or needs, just yours
Now you want to leave me
However, despite my sacrifices, you seem to be thinking of leaving
For the love of someone else
You are thinking of leaving me for someone else
My pride is all gone, baby right or wrong
I have been humbled and my self-respect is affected, regardless of whether I am right or wrong
I need you, baby, to keep on keepin' on
I rely on you to continue our relationship and keep going together
Baby, I'm tryin' to do my best
I acknowledge that I am trying hard to make things work between us
My biggest mistake was lovin' you too much
I regret caring for you so much, because it made me vulnerable
Now you've got me where you want me
You have taken advantage of my love and are holding me captive emotionally
And you won't let me go
You are not willing to release me from the pain you're causing me
My heart was made glad when you strolled, you see
I used to feel very happy when you were around and I saw you
How much heartache and misery you've been causin' me
But now, all you're bringing me is emotional distress and grief
Go down to the river and there I'll be
If you want to find me, I'll be down by the river
I'm gonna jump in, boy, if you don't see by me
I am so desperate and distressed that I am willing to take drastic measures
Open up your eyes; can't you see I love you?
You need to realize that I truly love you and care for you
Open up your heart; can't you see I need you?
Please, be open-hearted and see that I really need you to stay with me
Baby don't you do it, don't do it
I am still begging you not to break my heart, as it would hurt me too much
Don't break my heart, please don't do it
The idea of you breaking my heart is very painful, please don't do it
Don't ya break my heart
I am reiterating that you must not break my heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind