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Don't

Rating:
4.7 / 5

Words & Music: Jerry Leiber Mike Stoller

Don't, don't, that's what you say
Each time that I hold you this way,
When I feel like this and I want to hold you,
baby, don't say don't.

Don't, don't leave my embrace
For here in my arms is your place
When the night grows cold and I want to hold you,
baby, don't say don't.

If you think that this is just a game
I'm playing
If you think that I don't mean
ev'ry word I'm saying
Don't, don't, don't, don't,
Don't feel that way
I'm your love and yours I will stay

This you can believe
I will never leave you
Heave knows I won't
Baby, don't say don't

Recordingdate: 1957/09/06, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Don't:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with Don't.

Steve V wrote on March 03, 2009
My favorite Elvis ballad of all time. Its perfect in every way. Despite being a number 1 hit , it is little known by the masses and that amazes me.
Deano1 wrote on March 05, 2010
Any doubts about his singing ability on ballads should have completely been put to rest with this single release in 1958. Elvis doesn't just sing it, he feels it and the listener is treated to more than just another weepy ballad, they hear a classic. A song that despite spending five weeks at number one, seems to take second place to "Can't Help Falling In Love", "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and a few other ballads. It shouldn't, this is a five star track from beginning to end.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 27, 2012
This is such a brilliant song and Elvis easily has the very best rendition of it. It rightfully was a #1 hit for Elvis here in the United States. With that said, this song should be way better known than it actually is.
Gorse wrote on December 07, 2012
Probably would have been a lot better known if he had sung it in concert a few more times. A song classic that has an intensity and deep feeling about it, showing that Mr P. could actually sing pretty well and had the vocal capability to rival the classic balladeers of those years.
dgirl wrote on December 07, 2012
A classic that is basically unknown. I mean, when was the last time you heard this on the radio or being discussed when Elvis is the topic of discussion? Its criminally ignored, and part of the blame must go to Elvis. In the Lost Perfomance video he is rehearsing this with the band. Its the best part of the video to me. Why oh why then didnt he do it in concert instead yest again turing to cover other people's songs?
kink56 wrote on December 07, 2012
Don't and Love Me must be the two best 50s ballads ever.
Marty_TCE wrote on December 07, 2012
Leiber and Stoller gold * * * * *
Great Dane wrote on December 07, 2012
Very good, but not his best.Those were made in the 70's. 4 stars.
sugartummy wrote on March 02, 2013
Leiber & Stoller wrote this one for Elvis behinds Parker's back. The Colonel was not amused. Elvis should have kicked that Dutch mother...... right there out of his sight. A top ballad.
dismas wrote on February 09, 2014
A great, if slightly mannered, vocal performance by Elvis of a near-classic Mike & Jerry ballad. Largely forgotten by the general public (non-EP fans) and mostly ignored by radio programmers even during the Golden Oldies format boom, this mildly melodramatic ballad was an across-the-board number one smash hit in its day. Also, often quoted as Don & Phil Everly's favorite Elvis track.
TheMemphisFan wrote on February 10, 2014
"Don't" was once named by Elvis (in an early interview) as one of his favorite songs that he had recorded.
Natha wrote on June 02, 2014
The King + Leiber/Stoller means all the stars you can get. This ballad is so beautifully sung and shows how versatile the King was all the way in all directions, even at that stage in his career.
JerryNodak wrote on June 02, 2014
Great song! It's on my personal Top Ten list of greatest Elvis singles. This is a song from the '50's that I haven't tired of. I never hit the skip button when this tune comes on. Wish he would have done this as part of his concert set list.
Morris wrote on June 02, 2014
A pity Elvis didn´t realise what a great song it was when he reheased it in the seventies
Cruiser621 wrote on April 30, 2017
A 5-star song if ever there was with "I Beg of You" on the flip side when first released back in 1958 I believe. Really different and unique for him back in the day.
atomic powered poste wrote on October 26, 2019
A great pop tune should be easily memorable, but it shouldn't sound cheasy or give you the feeling that you've heard the same thing ca a million times before. Well this is a great pop tune, no doubt about it. And elvis, already with a more trained voice than a few years prior, delivered the song with charm and feeling. It's a masterpiece of 50's pop. 5 stars - obviously.
Milky White Way wrote on September 25, 2021
Pure beauty and only wish it made the 70’s set list. He had his reasons, he was the genius not me. But I love it 5 stars.
Rob Wanders wrote on September 25, 2021
One of his best ballads from the 50's
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