Don't (Billy Currington song)

"Don't" is the title of a song written by Jim Beavers and Jonathan Singleton, and recorded by American country music artist Billy Currington. It is the first single from his third studio album, 2008's Little Bit of Everything. The song is Currington's fifth Top Ten entry on the Hot Country Songs charts, having entered Top Ten on the chart week of December 13, 2008.

The song is part of the tracklist for Now That's What I Call Country Volume 2.

Content

In the lyric, the male narrator asks that his lover stay with him after a sexual encounter the night before. Jonathan Singleton and Jim Beavers were inspired to write "Don't" after spending a day listening to R&B music. According to Country Weekly, Beavers "started it with the groove and vibe, which had the kind of sexy R&B feel to it, with the idea of a guy begging his girl not to leave."^[1] Singleton said that he considered it "unusual" for the chorus to begin with "baby, baby, don't", and after realizing that the word "don't" appeared several times in the lyric, they decided to name the song "Don't".^[1]

Currington recorded the song in one take, which included session guitarist Brent Mason ad-libbing a "wah-wah" sound.^[2]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic described it as having a "sleek '80s sheen".^[3] Jessica Phillips of Country Standard Time said that it had a "suggestive R&B strut and pleading chorus."^[4]

Music video

The song's music video, directed by "The Brads", was shot in downtown Nashville. It shows Currington carrying two cups of coffee, one of which is intended for his female partner. Upon entering her apartment, he finds that she has left in a cab. He then runs down a fire escape and jumps into an alleyway, before driving off to catch up with the cab. Currington performed all of the video's stunts himself.^[5]

Chart performance

References