Album: Damn The Torpedoes (1979)

Charted: 10

License This Song 

• I was talking with a friend of mine
  Said a woman had hurt his pride
  Told him that she loved him so
  And turned around and let him go
  Then he said, you better watch your step
  Or your gonna get hurt yourself
  Someone's gonna tell you lies
  Cut you down to size
  
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  What if I love you baby?
  Don't do me like that
  
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  Someday I might need you baby
  Don't do me like that
  
  Listen honey, can you see?
  Baby, you would bury me
  If you were in a public eye
  Givin' someone else a try
  And you know you better watch your step
  Or you're gonna get hurt yourself
  Someone's gonna tell you lies
  Cut you down a size
  
  Don 't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  What if I love you baby?
  Don't, don't, don't, don't
  
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  What if I need you baby?
  Don't do me like that
  
  'Cause somewhere deep down inside
  Someone is saying, Love doesn't last that long
  I've had this feelin' inside night and day
  And babe I can't take it no more
  
  Listen honey, can you see?
  Baby, you would bury me
  If you were in a public eye
  Givin' someone else a try
  And you know you better watch your step
  Or you're gonna get hurt yourself
  Someone's gonna tell you lies
  Cut you down to size
  
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  What if I love you baby?
  Don't, don't, don't, don't
  
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  I just might need you honey
  Don't do me like that
  
  Wait
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  Baby, baby, baby
  Don't, don't, don't
  
  No
  Don't do me like that
  Don't do me like that
  Baby, baby, baby
  
  Oh, oh, oh Writer/s: Tom Petty
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 15

• L E Mack from OhioOf course the song is popular! Ain’t no one wanna be done like that!
• Eric B. from Troy, OhIt seems to me that every source gets the lyrics wrong on this which is a shame as it's one of the best Petty turns of phrase. To rhyme with "Someone is sayin'" he takes the phrase "Day in and night out" and reverses it. The song is sung "I got this feeling inside, night out and day in." That's how I always heard it and after observing this song life in more than one recording, I am sure this is the real lyric.
• Subsct from Ny,nyIt's really a great lesson in rudimentary songwriting with verse A, verse B, chorus, bridge, back to the verses and finishing with that chorus. Simple, effective, with a subject that resonates with all young men on the verge of being let go. And yes, don't we all know that feeling. Excellent tune, easy enough that everyone always remembers the lyrics after all these years. Bravo!
• Jaykay from Worldwide If you all read Petty the biography by Warren Zanes you may draw the same conclusion as I. This song is about his father's relationship with his mother.
• Ken from Louisville, Ky"Don't do me like that" is an old Southern expression, meaning either "Don't try to fool me" or "Don't mistreat me". So it's hardly surprising that Florida native Tom Petty would write a song around it.
• John from Grand Island, NyDamn The Torpedoes was one song short from completion. Tom asked the band if they had any song in mind they should record, someone suggested this song from his Mudcrutch days so this song almost never made it to vinyl, its funny how stuff works out.
• Jim from Long Beach, CaTP wrote this with his first band Mudcrutch in 1974. The he recoreded it solo in 1979..
• Jami from Redding, CaGeesus all these years I thought the lyric was listen honey can't you see maybe you would marry me. I obviously need to get out more. I still love this song though.
• Vernon from Trinidad, Wi, OtherCuriously enough, Tom Petty got into the Top 10 three times. Once with the Heartbreakers (this song), once with Stevie Nicks (Stop Draggin' My Heart Around) and once solo (Free Fallin') although I guess technically the Stevie Nicks one included the Heartbreakers too.
• Mary from Phoenix, AzWow. Y'all are saying this doesn't get enough airplay and that it's underrated, but they play it here in AZ on KSLX all the time. And on ThePeak.
• Cricket from Moscow, Idthis song rules! this one and 'you're so bad' don't get enough airplay
• Kendall from Thomasville, GaI agree with you Leon, as a matter o fact, I believe that it is one of the most underarted songs of any group in these days
• Tracy from Rogers, OhMy son who is 4 goes around singing Don't do me like that all the time and people find it so cool that a kid his age enjoys music like this. Anyways thought it is cool myself.
• Snake from Custer , Sdthe Mudcrutch Version of this song can be found on the boxed set "Playback"
• Leon from Waterbury, CtI love this tune and it's one of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' most under-rated songs.

More Songfacts:

The Great PretenderThe Platters

The Pretenders are named after the 1956 song "The Great Pretender" by The Platters.

WonderwallOasis

Oasis didn't coin the term "Wonderwall." It's the title of a 1968 movie with a soundtrack by George Harrison. It was Harrison's soundtrack that got the band's attention.

Chelsea DaggerThe Fratellis

The Fratellis song "Chelsea Dagger" was named for their lead singer's wife - it was her burlesque name.

MusclesDiana Ross

Michael Jackson wrote the Diana Ross hit "Muscles," which he named after his pet boa constrictor.

Invisible TouchGenesis

The Genesis song "Invisible Touch" was inspired by the Prince-written Sheila E. track "The Glamorous Life."

No More I Love You'sAnnie Lennox

The Annie Lennox hit "No More I Love You's" is a cover, originally sung by a man.

Editor's Picks

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."