Song Meaning

The lyrics present a series of exasperated directives from a proprietor, likely a restaurant owner, to various patrons who are violating unspoken social contracts within their establishment. The dominant tone is one of weary authority, a constant pushback against behavior deemed inappropriate for a "nice, respectable restaurant." The repeated command, "Go home and do it," serves as a refrain, a clear demarcation between public and private spaces and the actions permissible in each. The proprietor is not necessarily cruel, but rather rigidly focused on maintaining order and the restaurant's image, as evidenced by the mention of health inspectors and a "license to run this place." The central tension arises from the clash between the patrons' perceived needs or desires and the proprietor's strict adherence to rules, both explicit and implicit. Whether it's someone trying to sleep on a table, another with aching feet needing to remove shoes, or a newlywed couple caught in a passionate kiss, the proprietor's response is consistently dismissive. The lyrics suggest a world where even basic human comforts or expressions of emotion are secondary to the rigid maintenance of a public facade, pushing individuals to retreat to the privacy of their homes for any behavior that deviates from the norm. The most striking craft element is the almost absurdly specific catalog of transgressions and the equally specific, yet generalized, dismissal. The proprietor doesn't just say "no sleeping"; they point out the table is for eating. They don't just say "no shoes off"; they acknowledge the pain but frame it against the "people comin' in here from all over the world." This meticulous, almost bureaucratic, approach to policing behavior highlights the proprietor's singular focus on the restaurant's function and image over individual circumstances. The repetition of "Go home and..." transforms simple actions into acts of defiance that must be relegated to the domestic sphere. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their stark portrayal of social friction and the weary, almost comical, enforcement of arbitrary boundaries. The proprietor’s voice, a mix of exasperation and firm resolve, creates a vivid character. The lyrics capture a specific kind of public service grind, where the proprietor acts as a gatekeeper, constantly redirecting the messy realities of life away from the polished veneer of their business. The repeated "Now bye" at the end of each chorus feels less like a polite farewell and more like a final, definitive expulsion.

Joe Tex - R&B, Soul

Go Home And Do It

2 Plays

Duration: 3:22

View Artist

[Intro] Hey, hey! Take that mop and- ah! Boy, don't do that! Take that mop handle away from here [Chorus] Don't you fight in here You know that's wrong Don't start that fightin' in here You know that's wrong You better stop that fightin' in here Do your fightin' at home A-go home and fight Go home and fight Now bye [Verse 1] You can't sleep in here Wake up, fella I said you can't sleep in here Said Mr. Man, now I done told you once Now you can't sleep in here I'm sleepin' right here Yeah, but this ain't no hotel, man I ain't got no more money pay my hotel rent But you can't sleep in heres, up on the table Folks got eat on that tablе This ain't no hotel, that ain't no bed You ain't got no money, you ain't bought nothin' Gеt up and get on outta here! Go down to the bus station and sleep or somethin' I'll add anywhere (Eh) [Chorus] Go home and sleep Go home and sleep Now bye [Verse 2] Put shoes on, maybe You hear what I say? Put shoes on, maybe Say Ms. Lady I'm sorry, but you can't take your shoes off in here But my feets hurt! Lady, I'm sorry, you can't take your shoes off In this nice, respectable restaurant We got people comin' in here From all over the world ordering food And y'all just walk in, take your shoes off Wearin' them little tight, square-toed shoes Them folks makin' out here, squeezin' them toes up I know-I know they hurt But you can't just wrap if the salmon's up And go home and take your shoes off And then you can wiggle your toes and all like you wanna You know, suck your fish bones And throw your fish fat plates all over them floor And it don't make no difference, that's your house But get on outta here, uh-uh! [Chorus] Go home and take your shoes Go home and take your shoes off That's where you do that Now bye [Verse 3] You can't sleep in And I said you over there Can't kiss in here Say, where you two lovebirds think y'all are? Y'all ain't in no drive-in movie This is a nice, respectable restaurant But we is in love with each other! Lady, I don't care Us just got married this morning! You can't-you can't kiss here If you're on your honeymoon Go to Hawaii or Las Vegas or somewhere You c-can't kiss in here Both of the men come in here from the Health Department, now He take my license away from me Ain't no kissin on my-on my license to run this place It ain't no kissin' on there, I sell food Folks come in here from all over the world And I got- [Chorus] Go home and kiss Go home and kiss Now bye, get on outta here Mmm, Lord [Outro] Ain't that so? Ha-ha, now let that stay on in there Little raw, but it's alright, heh! Oh, go Them folks just bought this place

Credits

Writers: Joe Tex

Go Home And Do It

Go Home And Do It

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Credits