Honey Hush
Turner Joe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a Georgia cotton field
Honey, hush
Now baby, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
I say come in this house baby, stop all that yackety yack
Come fix my supper, don't want no talkin' back
Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
I got news for you baby, you ain't nothin' but an alley cat
Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
When I leave this time, I ain't comin' back no more
Honey hush
I say come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
Come in here woman, stop all that yackety yack
Don't make me nervous, 'cause I'm holdin' a baseball bat
Singin' hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing, hi-yo silver away
The first part of the song talks about letting things roll like a big wheel in a Georgia cotton field. This is referring to life and letting things go as they may. The phrase "honey hush" is an expression used to calm someone down or tell them to be quiet. In this case, it is being used to tell the woman to stop talking so much and come in the house to fix dinner. The man doesn't want any talking back and is frustrated with the woman's constant jabbering. He also makes a derogatory comment, calling her an alley cat, indicating that she is not to be trusted.
The second part of the song continues with the man's frustration with the woman's talking. He tells her to stop crying and turn off the waterworks as it no longer moves him. He also threatens to leave and not come back if she doesn't stop talking. The last part of the song is a nonsensical refrain of "hi-yo silver," which is possibly used to make fun of the Western songs that were popular at the time.
Overall, the song is a reflection of gender roles and expectations in relationships during the time it was written. The man is depicted as the dominant one who expects the woman to cook and not talk back, while the woman is expected to be submissive and cater to the man's needs.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, let 'em roll like a big wheel
Let them keep going and continue to succeed, just like a large wheel in a cotton field of Georgia.
In a Georgia cotton field
The setting where the large wheel is rolling is in a cotton field located in Georgia.
Honey, hush
Be quiet and stop talking.
Now baby, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
My dear, please enter this place of residence and cease your constant chatter and talkative nature.
I say come in this house baby, stop all that yackety yack
I am emphasizing the importance of you entering this house and immediately stopping your constant talking.
Come fix my supper, don't want no talkin' back
Prepare my dinner and do not reply with any form of argument or back-talk.
Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
Your continuous chatter is focused on trivial matters that have no importance.
I got news for you baby, you ain't nothin' but an alley cat
I need to inform you that you are nothing more than a street cat and have no place in my life.
Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
Stop crying and begging for my attention because it no longer affects me emotionally.
When I leave this time, I ain't comin' back no more
If I decide to leave, I will not return to this place again.
Singin' hi-yo, hi-yo silver
Singing a traditional cowboy tune to emphasize a sense of freedom and independence.
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
The repetitive lyrics of this tune, further symbolizing a sense of freedom and independence.
Sing, hi-yo silver away
Sing this tune to signify my departure and my excitement for what's to come.
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
Continuing to sing and emphasize the importance of freedom and independence.
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Further emphasis on the importance of freedom and independence.
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
Continuing to sing and emphasize the importance of freedom and independence.
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Further emphasis on the importance of freedom and independence.
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
Continuing to sing and emphasize the importance of freedom and independence.
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Further emphasis on the importance of freedom and independence.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOU WILLIE TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hamed Emine
Ah, let 'em roll like a big wheel
In a Georgia cotton field
Honey, hush
Now baby, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
I say come in this house baby, stop all that yackety yack
Come fix my supper, don't want no talkin' back
Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
Well, you keep on jabberin', you talk about this and that
I got news for you baby, you ain't nothin' but an alley cat
Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
When I leave this time, I ain't comin' back no more
Honey hush
I say come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
Come in here woman, stop all that yackety yack
Don't make me nervous, 'cause I'm holdin' a baseball bat
Singin' hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(Hi-yo, hi-yo silver)
Sing, hi-yo silver away
Dave L
This is the first record I ever bought with my own money. I was twelve or thirteen and, though I didn't know it, was waiting impatiently for Rock and Roll. The man in the record shop had to order it special. (He only carried white stuff.) When it came in he looked at me, kind of sneering, and said, "He ain't white, you know." I paid my 75 cents, grabbed the record and headed home. I played it over and over and almost drove my German Grandma nuts. I still love to hear it.
John Burger
It's fine discerning music lovers like you in Europe who kept the music - and often the musicians - alive. Thank you.
INME
"Rock and Roll 45-89 Five Decades" most popular hits from each year, each month. This list is the early rock and roll era hits and probably right upyour alley. Second list is "Rock and Roll January 55-89 Four Decades" All music that became a hit in January through 1989, the end of rock and roll. Music from 90 on pure mind control to dumb down the younger generation into following the orders of the Rulers, never realizing Absolute Perfection. If Dave is waiting for R n R, the wait is over. Sing, dance, enjoy eternal over 6000 hits in this series and all recorded music ever created in trillions of lists. Eternal listening just hit play all.
Andy C.
@John Burger I don't think he's in Europe. Europeans would not have said, "He ain't white, you know." I think only his Grandmother was German.
Amador Espinosa Pazols
Como pasa el tiempo, y yo que pensaba que era de Foghat. Cual es tu opinión respecto de este cover?. Saludos!!!!
TomCat
Great memory! Thanks for sharing
charles mccoy
A classic R&B tune by one of the greatest blues singers of all time.
Thatguy but it's actually a girl
It's rock and Roll. Not R&B.
UBI because of AI
This sh*t doesn't get old after almost 70 years. All hail the boss of the blues.
David Maslow
Well said!