Baby Please Don't Go
Longing in the Delta: Willie Smith's Plea
Lyrics
Baby, please don't go
Expressing a plea for the person not to leave.
Baby, please don't go
Reiteration of the plea not to go.
Baby, please don't go, down to New Orleans
Specifically mentioning "New Orleans" as a destination, possibly a place of significance or trouble.
You know I love you so
Affirmation of deep love for the person being addressed.
Before I be your dog
Choosing to face difficulties rather than being submissive ("dog").
Before I be your dog
Emphasizing the determination not to be submissive and independent stance.
Before I be your dog
-I get you way'd out here, and let you walk alone
Willing to go to great lengths to avoid being controlled and maintain independence.
Turn your lamp down low
Suggesting a desire for intimacy by lowering the metaphorical "lamp."
Turn your lamp down low
-Turn your lamp down low
-I beg you all night long, baby, please don't go
Pleading throughout the night for the person not to leave.
You brought me way down here
Expressing disappointment or mistreatment after being brought to a place, possibly Rolling Forks.
You brought me way down here
-You brought me way down here
-'bout to Rolling Forks, you treat me like a dog
Feeling treated poorly, akin to a dog, in the mentioned location.
Baby, please don't go
Repeating the plea, this time mentioning going back to New Orleans.
Baby, please don't go
-Baby, please don't go, back the New Orleans
-I beg you all night long
Continuing the plea throughout the night.
Before I be your dog
Restating the preference to face challenges rather than being submissive.
Before I be your dog
-Before I be your dog
-I get you way'd out here, and let you walk alone
Reiterating the willingness to let the person go rather than be controlled.
You know your man down gone
Acknowledging the departure of the person to a country farm with a sense of loss.
You know your man down gone
-You know your man down gone
-To the country farm, with all the shackles on
Highlighting the challenging conditions of the departure, possibly symbolized by "shackles."
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