get one's habits on/get beside oneself

[Wilson Gray]

On Jul 24, 2005, at 3:57 PM, Barbara H Hudson wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Barbara H Hudson <bhhudson at AUXMAIL.IUP.EDU>
> Subject:      get one's habits on/get beside oneself
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> Wilson Gray asked about "get/have one habits on" and "get beside
> oneself"
>
>       I have heard the first expression only in the lyrics of a song
>       by the Blues Brothers' called, "I Don't Know":
>
>       The woman I love has got devil in her jaw
>       Clothes she's wearing made out of the best of cloth
>       She can take em and wash 'em put 'em upside the wall
>       She can throw 'em out a window, pick 'em up a little before
>      they fall.
>       SOMETIMES I THINK YOU GOT YOUR HABITS ON
>       She said you shouldn't say that
>       I said what did I say to make you mad this time baby?
>       She said Umm...
>
> I have never understood what the singers were referring to, but I am
> getting a little better understaning of what they mean.
>
> As for the second phrase, I have often heard this expression
> used as a warning to younger people who may be trying to act "too
> grown" too soon.
>

Yes! You would never say it to a boss. You might or might not say it to
a friend, depending on the tightness of the relationship. But, like
Your head is hard as a rock, Talking to you is like talking to a wall,
Don't make me (have to) come get you, etc., it is certainly
parent-talk.

-Wilson Gray

> Barbara Hill Hudson
> http://www.africanamericanfemalecommunication.com
>