Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Love's Dance of Restraint: Hank Williams Jr.'s Playful Plea
Lyrics
I got a little change in my
I have some money in my pocket that's making a jingling sound.
Pocket going jingle lingle ling
Emphasizing the sound of change in the pocket.
Want to call you on the telephone
I want to call you on the telephone.
Baby I give you a ring
Expressing the desire to propose or express affection.
But each time we talk I
Every time we talk, the conversation follows the same pattern.
Get the same old thing
Repetition of a monotonous or unfulfilling interaction.
Always no huggin no kissin until
There's a lack of physical intimacy until a commitment is made.
I get a wedding ring
Physical affection is reserved for a committed relationship, symbolized by a wedding ring.
My honey my baby don't put
Expressing affectionate terms for the partner.
My love upon no shelf
Asking not to neglect the love or put it aside.
She said don't give no lines and
Advice to be straightforward and refrain from physical advances.
Keep your hands to yourself
Explicit instruction to avoid physical contact.
Cruel baby baby baby why you want
Expressing frustration or confusion about the partner's behavior.
To treat me this way
Questioning the reasons for mistreatment.
You know I'm still your lover boy
Asserting the enduring love for the partner.
I still feel the same way
Continuation of expressing consistent feelings.
That's when she told me a story
Introduction of a story about free benefits and obligations.
'bout free milk and a cow
Mentioning the idea of getting something for free.
And she said no huggin no kissin
Reiterating the requirement of commitment for physical affection.
Until I get a wedding vow
Linking the story to the need for a wedding vow.
My honey my baby don't put
Repetition of affectionate terms.
My love upon no shelf
Reinforcement of not neglecting love.
She said don't hand me no lines
Reiteration of the instruction to be straightforward and avoid deception.
And keep your hands to yourself
Restating the prohibition of physical contact.
You see I wanted her real bad and
Expressing a strong desire for the partner.
I was about to give in
On the verge of giving in to the desire.
That's when she started talkin' true
Partner starts talking about true love and sin.
Love started talkin' about sin
Introduction of serious aspects of the relationship.
I said honey I'll live with you
Offering a lifelong commitment.
For the rest of my life
Requesting physical intimacy after commitment.
She said no huggin no kissin until
Reiteration of the condition for physical affection.
You make me your wife
Linking physical intimacy to the status of being a wife.
My honey my baby don't put
Repetition of affectionate terms.
My love on no shelf
Repetition of the advice to avoid deception.
She don't hand me no lines and
Reiteration of the instruction to keep hands to oneself.
Keep your hands to yourself
Final repetition of the refrain.
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