Who Do You Love
The Band with Ronnie Hawkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cobra-snake for a necktie.
Brand new house by your roadside,
Made of rattlesnake hide.
Brand new chimney, made on top,
Made out of human skull.
Come on baby, take a walk with me,
Who do you love now?
Who do you love now?
Who do you love, babe?
I said who now, who do you love?
Tombstone head and a graveyard mind,
Just twenty-two and I don't mind dying.
Rode around town with a rattlesnake whip,
Come on baby, don't give me no lip.
Who do you love now?
Who do you love?
Who do you love, child?
I said who baby, who do you love?
Night is dark, the sky was blue,
Down the alley the ice wagon flew.
Hit a bump, somebody screamed,
You should have heard just what I seen.
Do you love him, babe?
Do you love her, yeah?
Do you love me, babe?
Do you love it, yeah, heh, yeah?
Well, who baby, who do you love?
What do you love now, baby?
Love, love, love me, babe.
Love, love, love me, darling.
(Right, what do you guys wanna hear next?
We're gonna have some fun tonight, right)
The Band's rendition of Ronnie Hawkins's "Who Do You Love" is a gritty and uninhibited blues-rock classic that captures the essence of the genre. The song's lyrics follow a young man who flaunts his reckless and fearless attitude to win over the woman he desires. He is willing to take on any challenge and even risk his life for her. The opening verse, "I walked a forty damned miles on barbed wire, Cobra-snake for a necktie," depicts the singer's rugged and dangerous manner. His toughness is further conveyed by the lines "Tombstone head and a graveyard mind, Just twenty-two and I don't mind dying."
The chorus of the song is a repetitive and emphatic refrain of "Who do you love now?" aimed at the woman he is pursuing. The lyrics suggest that he is confident of being the one she loves because of his audacity and unwillingness to back down from any challenge. The verse "Rode around town with a rattlesnake whip, Come on baby, don't give me no lip," is a fitting example of his bravado.
The lyrics also include a reference to an incident in the night when the ice wagon hit a bump, and someone screamed. The singer asks the woman whether she loves him, her, or the situation they are in, as he continues to exude his unapologetic attitude. Overall, The Band's interpretation of "Who Do You Love" is a raw and passionate depiction of aggressive love and carefree living.
Line by Line Meaning
I walked a forty damned miles on barbed wire,
I have suffered a great deal and taken many risks to be with you.
Cobra-snake for a necktie.
I am tough and dangerous, and I'm not afraid to face anything for you.
Brand new house by your roadside,
I built a new home for us to live in, close to where you are.
Made of rattlesnake hide.
The house is built from dangerous material, showing how committed I am to you.
Brand new chimney, made on top,
I also built a new chimney on top of the house.
Made out of human skull.
The chimney is made from a human skull, indicating that I am willing to do anything for your love.
Come on baby, take a walk with me,
Let's go on a walk together and talk about our love for each other.
Tell me, who do you love?
I want to know who you truly love and if it is me.
Tombstone head and a graveyard mind,
I am willing to die for you and will take any challenge that comes with it.
Just twenty-two and I don't mind dying.
I am young and willing to take risks for your love.
Rode around town with a rattlesnake whip,
I am not afraid to use dangerous tools to protect you and our relationship.
Come on baby, don't give me no lip.
Don't argue with me, trust me that I am doing everything for our love.
Night is dark, the sky was blue,
The setting is dark and ominous, just as our relationship may seem at times.
Down the alley the ice wagon flew.
An ice wagon passed by, showing that life goes on around us regardless of our intense love for each other.
Hit a bump, somebody screamed,
There was a sudden unexpected event that startled someone nearby, reflecting the unstable nature of our love.
You should have heard just what I seen.
I witnessed something so profound and intense that words cannot describe it.
Do you love him, babe?
Are you in love with someone else?
Do you love her, yeah?
Are you in love with another woman?
Do you love me, babe?
Do you truly love me?
Do you love it, yeah, heh, yeah?
Do you love the intense, dangerous nature of our relationship?
Well, who baby, who do you love?
Tell me again who you truly love.
What do you love now, baby?
What is it about me that you love now?
Love, love, love me, babe.
Express your love for me.
Love, love, love me, darling.
Show me how much you truly love me.
Writer(s): Ellas Mcdaniel
Contributed by Amelia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SuperSackdaddy
And now Robbie Robertson passes today. Our era of greatest songwriters are fading away.....
@ReggaeStrongTV
Rest in Peace Robbie Robertson. Forever young.
@michaelcarvlin7348
RIP Robbie Robertson. That's a big loss.
@bettysheehey6218
I had the privilege of being invited to Ronnie's beautiful home on Stoney Lake. It was a wonderful afternoon with Ronnie and his wonderful wife. I will treasure that day always. Indeed heaven is rocking with Ronnie's music. Thank you Art and Marilyn for including in your afternoon at Stoney Lake💖
@benhong540
May 29, 2022 R.I.P. Ronnie Hawkins. Thank you for giving Canada "Arkansas North!"
@okitssteph
Here to see The Hawks play. The best way I know to send my love and appreciation to Robbie and The Band tonight.
💔❤
@G_-jt2op
R.I.P. Robbie Robertson. The opening with his guitar is giving me everytime goosebumps
@regis387
another heart breaker🙁
@jaxsutro4880
Simply, LEGENDARY!!!….#RestInParadiseRobbie🙏🙏❤️
@peterzang
Why is he still alive underrated as a guitarist? Every lick is magic.