Lewis was born in DeQuincy, Louisiana, U.S., with the given name of Overton Amos Lemons.
He began to play music in New Orleans, in his mid-teens. Lewis had hit songs in 1952 with "The Bells Are Ringing", and in 1955 with the original recorded version of "I Hear You Knocking" (written by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King).
Lewis' own song "Blue Monday" was covered by Fats Domino. Whilst Elvis Presley's cover of the Lewis song "One Night" (altering one risque lyric) was #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on UK Singles Chart.
Dave Edmunds' cover of "I Hear You Knocking" also reached number one in the UK. His version of the song lyric actually name checks Lewis (alongside Chuck Berry and Huey Smith).
Lewis' track "Shame, Shame, Shame" appeared on the soundtrack of the film, Baby Doll in 1956, but failed to find entry to the R&B chart.
Lewis died in the autumn of 1966 from stomach cancer. He was all but forgotten outside of his New Orleans home base.
Ain't Gonna Do It
Smiley Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going home, nevermore to roam
Spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
Yeah I'm going home, nevermore to roam
Spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
No no no I ain't gonna do it
No no no I ain't gonna do it
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
(No, you can't push me out)
(Piano Solo)
Yeah I'm going home, nevermore to roam
Spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
Yeah I'm going home, nevermore to roam
I spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
No no no I ain't gonna do it
No no no I ain't gonna do it
No no no I ain't gonna do it
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
The lyrics to Smiley Lewis's song Ain't Gonna Do It tell the story of a man who has had enough of wandering and is ready to settle down with his wife. He repeats the line "I'm going home, nevermore to roam" to emphasize his determination to stay put. He also mentions two characters, Mo and Jo, who he used to roam with but now wants nothing to do with. The repetition of "No no no I ain't gonna do it" further emphasizes his resolve to stay put and not be tempted to wander again.
The song is a classic example of a blues-inspired rock and roll song. Smiley Lewis's smooth vocals combined with the upbeat piano and guitar make it a catchy tune that is easy to dance to. The lyrics themselves are straightforward and to the point, making it a relatable song to anyone who has ever felt the pull of wanderlust versus the desire for stability.
Overall, Ain't Gonna Do It is a classic rock and roll song that tells a relatable story of a man who is ready to give up his wandering ways and settle down with his wife.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going home, nevermore to roam
I'm heading back to where I belong, and I won't be wandering anymore
Spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
I plan to settle down with my wife and spend the rest of my days in one place
Yeah I'm going home, nevermore to roam
I am adamant about returning home and never leaving again
Spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
I am committed to spending the rest of my life firmly rooted beside my spouse
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
I won't participate in any more wandering adventures with Mo and Jo
No no no I ain't gonna do it
I am certainly not going to do that
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
I won't participate in any more wandering adventures with Mo and Jo
(No, you can't push me out)
(I won't be swayed or coerced)
(Piano Solo)
Yeah I'm going home, nevermore to roam
It's a firm decision - I'm going home and I'm never leaving again
Spend the rest of my life, right there with my wife
I plan to spend my days beside my beloved, in one place
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
I won't participate in any more wandering adventures with Mo and Jo
No no no I ain't gonna do it
I'm definitely not going to do that
I ain't roaming no more, with Mo and Jo
I won't participate in any more wandering adventures with Mo and Jo
Contributed by Miles Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.