Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pocket
Sonny Boy Williamson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
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
Don′t mention it to your brother
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 talkin′
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 darlin′

Overall Meaning

In "Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pocket," Sonny Boy Williamson addresses his lover, asking her to keep their relationship a secret and not share it with anyone, including her family. He emphasizes the importance of discretion, urging her not to tell her mother, father, sister, or even her brother. He is concerned that if their affair becomes known, it will not only cause trouble in their personal lives but also potentially disrupt their marriages.


By repeatedly pleading with his lover to keep their business to herself, Sonny Boy Williamson reveals a fear of the consequences that could arise from their affair being exposed. He understands that their relationship is forbidden, as they both have spouses, and he is aware that any disclosure could lead to a significant disruption in their lives.


The song's conclusion, "Goodbye darlin'," suggests that Sonny Boy Williamson is aware of the risks and complexities involved in their affair and that the best course of action for both of them is to part ways. Through his lyrics, he emphasizes the importance of discretion and the potential dangers of unraveling a secret relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
My dear, kindly do me a favor by refraining from sharing our personal matters with others


Please, darling, do me a favor, keep our business to yourself
I implore you, my beloved, to maintain the confidentiality of our affairs


I don′t want you to tell nobody in your family
It is my desire for you not to disclose anything to anyone within your relatives


And don't mention it to nobody else
Furthermore, I request that you abstain from discussing it with any other individuals


Don′t tell your mother
Keep this information from being disclosed to your own mother


Don't tell your father
Likewise, avoid sharing this with your father


Don't tell your sister
Ensure your sister remains unaware of these details


Don′t mention it to your brother
In addition, please refrain from mentioning it to your brother


Please, darling, keep our business to yourself
I earnestly plead with you, my dearest, to maintain our confidentiality


Don′t you tell nobody
I insist that you do not disclose this information to anyone


And don't mention it to nobody else
Furthermore, I stress the importance of not mentioning it to any other individuals


You have a husband
Let us not forget that you are married to another man


I have a wife
Similarly, I am wedded to another woman


If you start to talkin′
Should you begin to share our secrets


That's gonna mess up our life
It will undoubtedly complicate and disrupt our intertwined existence


Please, please baby, keep our business to yourself
I beseech you, my love, to strictly maintain the confidentiality of our affairs


Don′t you tell nobody
I reiterate, do not reveal this to anyone


And don't mention it to nobody else
Moreover, refrain from mentioning it to any other individuals


Goodbye darlin′
Farewell, my beloved




Writer(s): Sonny Boy Williamson

Contributed by Jayce A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions