Don't

Don't Be Cruel cover by Rex Ray & Henrik Kam

**"Don't**" is a song originally performed by Elvis Presley, released in 1958. Written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, it was Presley's eleventh number-one hit in the United States. "Don't" also peaked at number four on the R&B charts. *Billboard* ranked the ballad as the No. 3 song for 1958. The Residents have released three separate recordings of Don't, all tied to their King & Eye album.

## Background

### The Elvis Presley Version

When Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote 'Don't' for Elvis Presley in late 1957, the trio were already riding high on the popularity of their earlier material, with songs like *Hound Dog* *(Written for Big Mama Thornton)* and *Jailhouse Roc*k already released as chart-topping hits with the tween Residents taking note. In January of 1958, the single was released. Two months later, Elvis would be drafted into military service.

### The Residents' Versions

The Residents first demoed a version of 'Don't' in mid-1989 while developing their Cube-E tour. Although the song was ultimately un-used in the live show and the following album of Elvis covers *The King & Eye*, a studio version of 'Don't was included on the 1990 EP, 'Don't Be Cruel.' It's possible that The Residents considered their arrangement of 'Don't' to be unfinished, leading to it's removal from the released version of The King & Eye.

Over a decade later, Paralyzer, guided by The Residents, revisited the King & Eye master tapes to create a new version for the 21st Century, titled *The King & Eye RMX**. Unlike* the original version, RMX included '*Don't',* in heavily remixed form.

The demo version of 'Don't' was first released on the 'The King & Eye Demos' disc of the 2020 Cube-E box-set. The original studio version of The Residents 'Don't' was also included on the box as a bonus track on '*The Baby King Live In Amsterdam.*'

## Lyrics

```
[Verse 1]
Don't, don't, that's what you say
Each time that I hold you this way

```

```
[Bridge]
When I feel like this and I want to kiss you
Baby, don't say don't
Don't don't

```

```
[Verse 2]
Don't, don't leave my embrace
For here in my arms is your place

```

```
[Bridge]
When the night grows cold and I want to hold you
Baby, don't say don't

```

```
[Verse 3]
If you think that this is just a game
I'm playing
If you think that I don't mean
Every word that I'm saying
Don't, don't-
Don't feel that way
I'm your love and yours I'm gonna stay

```

```
[Outro]
This you can believe
I will never leave you
Heaven knows I won't
Baby, don't say don't!

```

### RMX Version

The RMX version features a re-phrased fourth verse.

```
[Verse 1]
Don't, don't, that's what you say
Each time that I hold you this way

```

```
[Bridge]
When I feel like this and I want to kiss you
Baby, don't say don't
Don't don't

```

```
[Verse 2]
Don't, don't leave my embrace
For here in my arms is your place

```

```
[Bridge]
When the night grows cold and I want to hold you
Baby, don't say don't

```

```
[Verse 3]
Now, If you think that this is just some kinda game
That I'm playing
Or maybe - Or maybe, if you think that I don't mean
Every single word that I'm saying
Don't, don't-
Don't feel that way
I'm your love and yours I'm gonna stay

```

```
[Outro]
This you can believe
I will never leave you
Heaven knows I won't
Baby, don't say don't!

```

## Appearances

* Don't Be Cruel (1990)
* In Memoriam Torso (1994)
* Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Huddled Masses (1997)
* The King & Eye: RMX (2004)
* Documentation - Tunes In Danger Of Becoming Lost (2009)
* Cube-E Box (The History Of American Music In 3 E-Z Pieces) (2020)

## Versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1990 Studio Version (1:57)
2. ↑ 2004 RMX version (2:13)
3. ↑ 1989 Demo Version (1:58)