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"Don't" is a song written by Jim Beavers and Jonathan Singleton and recorded by American country music artist Billy Currington. It was released in July 2008 as the first single from Currington's 2008 album Little Bit of Everything. For the week of February 7, 2009, the song became Currington's fifth Top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 2 behind Blake Shelton's "She Wouldn't Be Gone".

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." 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".

Currington recorded the song in one take. During the session, electric guitarist Brent Mason ad-libbed a "wah-wah" sound, which Currington asked to be left in the final recording.

Critical reception

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

Music video

The accompanying music video for this song was directed by "The Brads". It was shot in downtown Nashville and 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.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

1. "Hot Country Songs". Billboard.
2. ^ Conaway, Alanna (2009-04-27). "Story Behind the Song: "One Big Scene" Equals a Hit". Country Weekly. 16 (11): 22.
3. Shelburne, Craig (15 October 2008). "Billy Currington Takes It Easy With New Album". CMT. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Little Bit of Everything review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
5. Phillips, Jessica. "Little Bit of Everything review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
6. "Billy Currington Dives in on "Top 20"". Great American Country. 2008-11-07. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
7. "Billy Currington Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
8. "Billy Currington Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
9. "Billy Currington Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
10. "Billy Currington Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
11. "Best of 2009: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.

• 2008 singles
• Country ballads
• 2000s ballads
• Billy Currington songs
• Songs written by Jonathan Singleton
• Songs written by Jim Beavers
• Song recordings produced by Carson Chamberlain
• Mercury Nashville singles
• 2008 songs