Keep It to Yourself
Sonny Boy Williamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please, darling, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
I don't want you to tell nobody in your family
And don't mention it to nobody else
Don't tell your mother
Don't tell your father
Don't tell your sister
Please, darling, keep our business to yourself
Don't you tell nobody
And don't mention it to nobody else
You have a husband
I have a wife
If you start to talking
That's gonna mess up our life
Please, please baby, keep our business to yourself
Don't you tell nobody
And don't mention it to nobody else
Goodbye darling
The lyrics of Keep It To Yourself by Sonny Boy Williamson depict a plea from the singer to his lover to keep their affair a secret. The singer is deeply worried about the consequences that could arise if their relationship was to become public knowledge. Thus, he begs his lover to keep their business to herself and not tell anyone. He specifically urges her not to tell her family, including her mother, father, sister, or brother. Furthermore, he emphasizes that their relationship could ruin their lives if it gets out in the open. In the end, he bids farewell, hoping that their secret would stay that way.
The song paints a picture of a man who is in a precarious situation. He is engaging in an extramarital affair, which was considered taboo and unacceptable in society during the time the song was written. The singer is well aware of the risk he is taking by pursuing this relationship, and he emphasizes the importance of keeping everything under wraps. The lyrics are a poignant reflection of the time's social norms and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
My love, please be kind enough to not reveal our private affairs to anyone else
Please, darling, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
My beloved, I earnestly beseech you to not disclose our private information
I don't want you to tell nobody in your family
I do not wish for you to disclose our secrets to your family members
And don't mention it to nobody else
And please do not mention it to anyone else too
Don't tell your mother
Please do not disclose our secrets with your mother
Don't tell your father
Please do not disclose our secrets with your father
Don't tell your sister
Please do not disclose our secrets with your sister
Don't mention it to your brother
Please do not mention our affairs to your brother as well
You have a husband
I am aware that you have a spouse
I have a wife
I, too, am married
If you start to talking
If you begin to chatter
That's gonna mess up our life
It will lead to complications in our lives
Please, please baby, keep our business to yourself
Please, my dear, I implore you to keep our secrets confidential
Don't you tell nobody
Please do not tell anyone
Goodbye darling
Farewell, my love
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Skinny Lee
No matter how many thousands of times I listen to this performance over the years, it just keeps getting better and better over the years
D Doeser
Telkens weer ...krijg dr geen genoeg van " Kippenvel " ❤🇳🇱🙏👍👋🌹 Woensdag 20 Juli Jaar 2022.Tijd 18:05 UUR AVOND. 🌎
Ahmed Chadli
Un y
MAXI BORGARO
ABSOLUTELY
Darryl Haney
one great live performance !
Skinhead SoulBhoy
An absolute rascal , I adore Sonny Boy. He did a live album with the Yardbirds , the Mods loved him. What a stone cold legend
ninja vigilante
Brought the old school over, even plucked and cook a chicken like would do in the American South.
D Doeser
Prachtig Telkens weer R.I.P ❤🇳🇱 ONVERGETELIJK JAAR 2O22 🙏👋
Skinny Lee
Stone cold chills almost every time I listen to this masterful performance
Hugo Andres Ibarra Chaparro
Yes