Baby Please Don't Go - Aerosmith

Artist: Aerosmith
Song: Baby Please Don't Go
Year: 2004
Album: Honkin' On Bobo

After years of talking about it, Aerosmith finally released their blues album in 2004. Did it measure up to all the hype? No. But it was a damn fine record. There were a smattering of originals mixed in with lots of standards. By standard, I mean they've been covered by almost every artist under the sun. You would think that there would be no new ground to cover. You'd be right.

Don't underestimate the power of Aerosmith though. Once Steven Tyler gets a hold of a song, it is eternally his. Steven's unique vocal stylings make any song an instant Aerosmith song. Case in point with "Baby Please Don't Go". Aerosmith takes a classic blues song and amps up the volume and the intensity. You can almost feel the dirt. It feels like the rock version of the blues played at a seedy dive.

In a perfect world, this album would have been out in the late eighties. This would have performed very well in the Pump era. Still, I'm grateful to have this album. "Baby Please Don't Go" is one of the many highlights on the album. It reminds me of their live shows. Not the ones that they put on for television spots, the ones that they put on during the grind of a tour. Those are full of little moments like this.

I'm hoping for a purging of unreleased blues tracks from the Geffen days. I doubt that it will happen, but one can dream. I never thought that this album would see the light of day. I just wish it was a little better received by the casual fans. It's a great album, once you give it a chance.

Lyrics:
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans
You know I love you so
Baby, please don't go

Well, your mind done gone
Well, your mind done gone
Yeah, your mind done gone left the county farm
You got the shackles on
Baby, please don't go

Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog, git you way down here
I make you walk alone
Baby, please don't go

Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans
You know I love you so
Baby, please don't go

Know how I feel right now
My baby's leavin', on that midnight train
And I'm dyin'

Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans
You know I love you so
Baby, please don't go