Don't Play Around

Album: The Boys Are Back In Town (1980)
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Songfacts®:

  • This Phil Lynott composition begins:

    He stuck that knife right into her gut
    I wanna tell you she was lucky with what she got
    But what she got was not enough
    She played around


    A crime of passion is one thing, but here, Lynott seems to be suggesting the young lady deserved it, and that she knew she deserved it, which smacks of a lack of empathy if not outright misogyny.

    Having said that, "Don't Play Around" was released as the B-side of "Killer On The Loose," and is consistent if nothing else. It has to be said too that in general Lynott's bark was worse than his bite, and the only person on whom he ever inflicted serious physical damage was himself. He died aged 36 from complications brought on by his addiction to heroin.

    "Don't Play Around" is also typically strong melodically, whatever the lyrics. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Silver Dollar from DublinThis may have been written about his wife, who cheated on him. He was angry. To say this is ''misogyny'' (dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women) is a bit weird. Philip loved women.
  • Suffering Zappatache from Galicia I bought the double single when it came out and even at the tender age of 12 I knew the lyrics were a little disturbing! Only played the song once or twice and probably haven't heard since it in 40 years!
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