Many cover versions followed, leading to its description as "one of the most played, arranged, and rearranged pieces in blues history" by French music historian Gérard Herzhaft.

Paul Revere & The Raiders, AC/DC, Aerosmith, John Mellencamp, Amboy Dukes, and Welsh power trio Budgie are among the rock groups who have recorded the song.

"Baby, Please Don't Go" is likely an adaptation of "Long John", an old folk theme that dates back to the time of slavery in the United States.

[1] Blues researcher Paul Garon notes that the melody is based on "Alabamy Bound", composed by Tin Pan Alley writer Ray Henderson, with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva and Bud Green in 1925.

[2] Author Linda Dahl suggests a connection to a song with the same title by Mary Williams Johnson in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

[1][3][5] Blues researcher Jim O'Neal notes that Williams "sometimes said that the song was written by his wife, singer Bessie Mae Smith a.k.a.

[10] Blues historian Gerard Herzhaft calls it "the most exciting version",[1] which Williams recorded using his trademark nine-string guitar.

[2] This version did not reach the Billboard Race Records chart,[12] but represents a move toward a more urban blues treatment of the song.

[1] Early examples include Papa Charlie McCoy as "Tampa Kid" (1936), Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston (1939), Lightnin' Hopkins (1947), John Lee Hooker (1949), and Big Bill Broonzy (1952).

[19] AllMusic critic Bill Janovitz cites the influence of Waters' adaptation: The most likely link between the Williams recordings and all the rock covers that came in the 1960s and 1970s would be the Muddy Waters 1953 Chess side, which retains the same swinging phrasing as the Williams takes, but the session musicians beef it up with a steady driving rhythm section, electrified instruments and Little Walter Jacobs wailing on blues harp.

[25] Janovitz identifies the riff as "the backbone of the arrangement" and describes Henderson's contribution as an "amphetamine-rush, pulsing two-note bass line.

[30] On March 20, Billboard magazine first listed the song on its extended "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" chart,[31] where it eventually peaked at number 102 on April 24.

[46] AllMusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia called the song "positively explosive",[47] while music writer Dave Rubin described it as "primal blues rock".

[49][50] For their appearance, "Angus wore his trade mark schoolboy uniform while Scott took the stage wearing a wig of blonde braids, a dress, make-up, and earrings", according to author Heather Miller.

[49] Joe Bonomo describes Scott as "a demented Pippi Longstocking", and Perkins notes his "tattoos and a disturbingly short skirt.

[50] Although "Baby, Please Don't Go" was a popular part of AC/DC's performances (often as the closing number), the song was not released internationally until their 1984 compilation EP '74 Jailbreak.

[3] Writing for the Foundation, Jim O'Neal noted that, in addition to various blues recordings, "the song was revived in revved-up fashion by rock bands in the '60s such as Them, the Amboy Dukes, and Ten Years After".

An album review mentions Them's version, but adds that the Amboy Dukes' "Ted Nugent and the boys totally twist it to their point-of-view, even tossing a complete Jimi Hendrix [guitar line from "Third Stone from the Sun"] nick into the mix.

[60] In 1969, Ten Years After included some lyrics from "Baby, Please Don't Go" during their performance of "I'm Going Home" at the Woodstock festival in Bethel, New York.