Little Sister
Ry Cooder Lyrics
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Little sister don't you cheat on) me
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
Little sister don't you o what you big sister done
Well, I dated your big sister
And I took her to a show)
Along came Jim Dandy
And they snuck right out the door
Little sister won't you please, please, please
Little sister don't you cheat on me
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
Little sister don't you do what your big sister done
Ev'ry time I see your sister
Seems she's got somebody new
Well, she's mean and evil
Like that little old Boll Weevil
Got to try my luck with you
Sister won't you please, please, please
Little sister don't you cheat on me
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
Little sister don't you do what your big sister done
Well, now I used to pull your pigtails
And I pinched your turned-up nose
Baby you been a-growin'
Yes, it's been a-showin'
From your head down to your toes
The lyrics of Ry Cooder’s “Little Sister” tell the story of a man who has fallen for his girlfriend’s younger sibling. The song starts with the man pleading with his little sister not to cheat on him, to not kiss him and then run away like her older sister had done before. He asks her not to follow in her older sister’s footsteps and make the same mistakes.
The second verse describes the incident that triggered the man’s fear of being cheated on again. He remembers taking his older girlfriend to a show and when he went to get candy, she snuck out with another man. This sense of having been betrayed is what makes him caution his current girlfriend not to do the same.
The third verse is where the singer confesses his attraction to the younger sister, explaining how he sees his girlfriend with someone new every time he meets her. He compares his older girlfriend to the mean and evil Boll Weevil insect and seeks comfort in his attraction to the little sister. The song ends with references to the pigtail-pulling, nose-pinching behavior of young love, indicating the innocence of the singer’s intentions.
Overall, “Little Sister” is a cautionary tale of love and betrayal, where the singer’s past experiences with his older girlfriend lead him to be wary of his current partner’s actions. By framing the story from the perspective of the younger sister, the song explores the idea of sisterhood and the impact of past relationships on current ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Little sister won't you please, please, please
The singer is asking the little sister to not do something he is worried she may do.
Little sister don't you cheat on me
The singer is asking the little sister to be loyal and not betray him.
Little sister don't you kiss me once and twice
Say it's very nice and then you run
The singer is asking the little sister to not lead him on by making him think she is interested in him when she is not.
Little sister don't you do what your big sister done
The artist is warning the little sister to not follow in her big sister's footsteps and make the same mistakes she did.
Well, I dated your big sister
And I took her to a show
The artist is relaying a past experience where he went on a date with the little sister's big sister.
I went out for some candy
Along came Jim Dandy
And they snuck right out the door
While the singer was away, the big sister left with someone else.
Ev'ry time I see your sister
Seems she's got somebody new
Well, she's mean and evil
Like that little old Boll Weevil
Got to try my luck with you
The singer is frustrated by the big sister's behavior and is now turning his attention to the little sister instead.
Well, now I used to pull your pigtails
And I pinched your turned-up nose
Baby you been a-growin'
Yes, it's been a-showin'
From your head down to your toes
The artist is reminiscing on past interactions with the little sister and realizing that she has grown up and become attractive to him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind