Dwight Yoakam – Please, Please Baby

About The Song

“Please, Please Baby” was written and recorded by American country music artist Dwight Yoakam. It was released in November 1987 as the third single from his album Hillbilly Deluxe on Reprise Records. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and reached No. 2 on the Canadian RPM country singles chart, marking a significant hit in his early career.

The song was recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville, produced by Pete Anderson, with Yoakam’s twangy vocals leading the track. The recording featured a classic honky-tonk arrangement with Pete Anderson’s guitar work and a driving rhythm section, reflecting Yoakam’s neotraditional country style. The track runs 3:35.

The lyrics depict a man’s desperate plea for his lover to return, with lines like “Please, please baby, baby come back home.” Yoakam crafted the song as a heartfelt plea filled with regret, showcasing his ability to convey emotional depth through simple yet powerful storytelling, rooted in the Bakersfield sound tradition.

The music video, directed by Bud Schaetzle, was taken from the 1995 live album Dwight Live and premiered in mid-1995, featuring a live performance that captured the song’s raw energy. The original studio version also gained airplay, contributing to its chart success.

Upon release, “Please, Please Baby” achieved solid success, spending several weeks on the charts and contributing to Hillbilly Deluxe’s platinum certification. The album, released in April 1987, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, cementing Yoakam’s status as a rising star.

Yoakam, born on October 23, 1956, in Pikeville, Kentucky, promoted the single with live performances and TV appearances. His early career in Los Angeles, blending country with rockabilly influences, shone through, and the song was later reprised on Dwight Live and the acoustic album dwightyoakamacoustic.net.

The song remains a fan favorite, appreciated for its emotional resonance and Yoakam’s vocal delivery. It continues to be featured in country music retrospectives, reflecting his enduring impact on the genre.

Video

Lyric

Yeah, hang on a second
Yeah, hang on the to the rhythm, buddy

Please, please baby, baby come back home
‘Cause it’s so cold and dark here all alone
If you come back I promise I’ll be good
If you come home, baby, I’ll act like I should

I laughed when you packed your bags and told me goodbye
I hollered, “I don’t need you,” oh but honey, that’s a lie

Please, please baby, baby come back home
‘Cause it’s so cold and dark here all alone
If you come back I promise I’ll be good
If you come home, baby, I’ll act like I should

If you don’t come home dear, I know I’ll go insane
Sweetheart, I plead guilty, darlin’ I’ll take all the blame

Please, please baby, baby come back home
‘Cause it’s so cold and dark here all alone
If you come back I promise I’ll be good
If you come home, baby, I’ll act like I should

Please, please baby, baby come back home
‘Cause it’s so cold and dark here all alone
If you come back I promise I’ll be good
If you come home, baby, I’ll act like I should

If you come home, baby, I’ll act like I should
If you come home, baby, I’ll act like I should