“Baby, Don’t You Do It (Don’t You Break My Heart)”
Everyone (well, almost everyone) knows the song “Don’t Do It” performed by The Band. It splashed all over when the album Rock of Ages was recorded at The Academy of Music in New York in December of 1971. That song has been covered countless times by thousands of bands.
The Who also recorded that song on Who’s Next, recorded in April through June of 1971. It didn’t get very much notice, overshadowed by “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley.” However, The Who played that song often — back in 1964-65! That was in the era when most British bands were covering American blues and soul artists.
Soul artists such as Marvin Gaye, who had a hit record with the song under its original title: “Baby, Don’t You Do It.” The song was written by Tamla/Motown powerhouse team Holland, Dozier & Holland (Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier). It was on the charts in 1964 and then appeared on Gaye’s fifth studio album, How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You. It featured the amazing sound of The Funk Brothers, with backing vocals by The Andantes (Marlene Barrow, Jackie Hicks, and Louvain Demps).
[Chorus]
Baby don’t you do it, don’t do it babe
Don’t break my heart, don’t do it babe
Don’t break my heart, please don’t do it babe
Don’t you break my heart’Cause I sacrifice to make you happy
Get nothing for myself
Now you wanna leave me
For the love of someone else
My pride is all gone, whether right or wrong
I believe, baby, you’d better keep on keeping on[Chorus]
My biggest mistake was loving you too much
And letting you know
Cause now you’ve got me where you want me
And you’re gonna let me go
My heart was made glad when you strolled, you see
Heartaches and misery you’ve been causing me[Chorus]
Go down to the river and there I’ll be
I’m gonna jump in, baby, if you don’t see by me
Open up your eyes; can’t you see I love you?
Open up your heart; can’t you see I need you?
I’m no good without you, can’t go on without you
Life’s no good without you, what’m I gonna do without you?Baby don’t do it, don’t you break my heart
Don’t you do it, baby, don’t you break my heart
What’m I gonna do without you?
Got to go on, baby
Baby don’t you do it