Don't Make Me No Promises
The Dramatics Lyrics
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(Baby, Don't, Baby)
Don't, make me no promises
(Baby) don't, make me no deals
Baby don't, tell me no little white lies
Oh! just be for real
And stop your messing around
You build my hopes up to the sky
(Went to the sky)
And then you let me down
If, you don't love me (love) baby
Then (spare...) spare me the pain
Of wanting you, and loving you
(And hanging on)
And hanging on in vain
Baby don't, make me no promises
(Baby) don't, make me no deals
Baby don't, tell me no little white lies
Oh Girl! just be for real
You said you're gonna stick by me
Till death do us part
And everytime you break your promises
(Break your promises)
You end up breaking my heart
Love is love
There are no in betweens
You've got to mean what you say
(Mmmh what you say)
You've got to say what you mean
Baby don't, make me no promises
Oh! don't, make me no deals (Hey)
Baby don't, tell me no little white lies
(Don't! just be for real)
(Oh! Don't) Don't
(Woo! Don't) Don't
(Make me no promises)
Don't make me no promises
(No, no! baby!)
(Don't, don't)
No, no (oh don't)
Don't make me no deals
(Make me no deals)
(Hey baby don't) and whatever you do
(Please don't) make me no promises
(No, no, no, no, oh don't)
(Make me no deal) (Hey, hey don't)
(Make me no promises)(Woo! Don't)
(Make me no deal)(Hey don't)
(Tell me no little white lies)
(Just, just be for real)(Hey baby)
(Don't) No (make me no promises)
No, don't make no promises
(Baby don't)(make me no deal)
And no deals (baby don't)
(Tell me no little white lies)
Whatever you do don't tell me a lie
(Girl, just be for real)
Please be for real (hey baby)
(Don't) (make me no promises)
Promises promises... (Don't babe, don't)
(Don't, make me no deal)
The lyrics to The Dramatics’ hit song, “Don’t Make Me No Promises” addresses the theme of broken promises in relationships. This theme is recurrent in many other songs across different genres. In the song, the singer is pleading with their lover to be honest and not to make promises that they cannot keep. The singer has been let down numerous times, and they are tired of the emotional pain caused by the broken promises. The chorus, “Baby, don't, make me no promises, (Baby) don't, make me no deals, Baby don't, tell me no little white lies, Oh! just be for real,” sets the tone for the theme of the song.
The first verse starts with the singer admitting that they have been let down by their lover many times in the past. The singer tells their partner that they build up their hopes by making promises to them and then breaking them, which leaves the singer hurt and disappointed. The second verse states that if the partner doesn't love the singer, they should spare them the pain of wanting and loving them. The singer acknowledges that there are no in-betweens when it comes to love, and the partner should mean what they say and say what they mean.
Overall, “Don't Make Me No Promises” is a soulful ballad that is easy to relate to. The dramatics, through their lyrics, convey the pain caused by broken promises in relationships effectively. The song's theme of honesty and being true to oneself resonates with the listener, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't, make me no promises
I don't want you to make any commitments to me
(Baby) don't, make me no deals
I don't want you to make any kind of arrangements with me
Baby don't, tell me no little white lies
I don't want you to deceive me with small untruths
Oh! just be for real
I want the truth and for you to be honest with me
You say you're gonna do right by me
You claim that you will treat me well
And stop your messing around
You will cease your unfaithful behavior
You build my hopes up to the sky
You create high expectations for me
(Went to the sky)
And then you let me down
And then you disappoint me
If, you don't love me (love) baby
If you don't have genuine feelings for me
Then (spare...) spare me the pain
Then please avoid causing me sorrow
Of wanting you, and loving you
Of desiring and caring for you
(And hanging on)
And hanging on in vain
And holding on fruitlessly
You said you're gonna stick by me
You promised that you will remain loyal to me
Till death do us part
Until one of us dies
And every time you break your promises
And every time you fail to fulfill your commitments
(Break your promises)
You end up breaking my heart
You end up causing me emotional pain
Love is love
Love is unambiguous
There are no in betweens
There are no gray areas
You've got to mean what you say
You need to back up your words with actions
(Mmmh what you say)
You've got to say what you mean
You need to express yourself honestly
No, no (oh don't)
Please do not
And no deals (baby don't)
And no arrangements either
Whatever you do don't tell me a lie
Please avoid lying to me at all costs
(Girl, just be for real)
Please be for real (hey baby)
I want you to be truthful and sincere with me
Promises promises... (Don't babe, don't)
Empty promises... don't make them, honey
(Don't, make me no deal)
Please don't make any arrangements with me either
Writer(s): Tony Hester
Contributed by Isabella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.