Don't You Tell Nobody
Willie Dixon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And don't you tell, nobody
And don't you tell, nobody
Don't you tell, nobody
Baby, what-a we done, done

Well, you made me weep
And you made me moan
You made me do things
That I knew was wrong

You made me jump
Then made me shout
Early in the mo'nin
You knocked me out

But don't you tell, nobody
Don't you tell, nobody
Don't you tell, nobody
And baby, what we done, done

And don't ya tell, nobody
And don't ya tell, nobody
Don't ya tell, nobody
And baby what a-we done, done

Well, you made me happy
Then you made me sad
Made me feel good
Then you made me mad

You made me laugh
Oh then you made me cry
Early in the mo'nin'
And you told me good-bye

And don't ya tell, nobody
Don't ya tell, nobody
Don't ya tell, nobody
And baby what a-we done, done

And don't ya tell, nobody
Don't tell nobody





Don't ya tell, nobody
An baby what a-we done, done

Overall Meaning

In Willie Dixon's song "Don't You Tell Nobody," the singer is pleading with their lover not to reveal their secret relationship to anyone else. The repetition of the title phrase emphasizes the urgency and importance of keeping their affair a secret. The lyrics describe the ups and downs of their relationship - they have made each other happy and sad, made each other do things they knew were wrong, and knocked each other out (presumably in bed). Despite the difficulties they have faced, the singer still feels a strong connection to their lover and wants to keep their relationship hidden from the world.


The song has a bluesy feel, with a slow tempo and a repeating guitar riff that sets a melancholy tone. The lyrics are deeply personal and reveal the singer's vulnerability and attachment to their lover. The song also touches on themes of secrecy, shame, and the difficulty of staying true to oneself while navigating societal expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

And don't you tell, nobody
Please keep our actions a secret and do not share with anyone


And don't you tell, nobody
I really mean it, please do not share with others


Don't you tell, nobody
I am reiterating the importance of keeping our secret hidden from others


Baby, what-a we done, done
Please do not reveal what we have done, as it may have negative consequences


Well, you made me weep
Your actions made me cry and feel sad


And you made me moan
You caused me to make sounds of discomfort or pain


You made me do things
Your influence led me to take part in actions that I knew were morally wrong


That I knew was wrong
I was aware of the immorality of what we were doing


You made me jump
You startled me and caused me to move suddenly


Then made me shout
Your actions led me to raise my voice loudly


Early in the mo'nin
This occurred in the early hours of the morning


You knocked me out
You caused me to lose consciousness or to be stunned


Well, you made me happy
You brought joy and happiness into my life


Then you made me sad
Your actions later caused me to feel sadness and disappointment


Made me feel good
Your actions gave me positive feelings and emotions


Then you made me mad
You later caused me to feel anger and frustration


You made me laugh
You caused me to find humor in a situation


Oh then you made me cry
Your actions later caused me to feel sadness and cry


And you told me good-bye
Your actions led to our separation or the end of our relationship


And don't ya tell, nobody
I am emphasizing the importance of keeping our secret hidden from others


Don't tell nobody
I am repeating my request to keep our actions confidential


Don't ya tell, nobody
I am emphasizing once more that this secret should not be shared with anyone


An baby what a-we done, done
Please do not reveal our actions, as it may have negative consequences for both of us




Contributed by Reagan M. 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