Born Abigail Francine Lassman to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, Lane began her career as a child actress on radio, and from there she progressed to singing and dancing on Broadway.
Married to Xavier Cugat from 1952 until their divorce in 1964, Lane achieved her greatest success as a nightclub singer, and was described in a 1963 magazine article as "the swingingest sexpot in show business". Cugat's influence was seen in her music which favoured Latin and rumba styles. In 1958 she starred opposite Tony Randall in the Broadway musical Oh, Captain! but her recording contract prevented her from appearing on the original cast album of the show. On the recording, her songs were performed by Eileen Rodgers. Lane later recorded her songs on a solo album. The most successful of her records was a 1958 album collaboration with Tito Puente titled Be Mine Tonight.
Apart from working solo, Lane frequently appeared on talk shows with Cugat.
She attracted attention for her suggestive comments such as "Jayne Mansfield may turn boys into men, but I take them from there", and also commented that she was considered "too sexy in Italy". Her costume for an appearance on the Jackie Gleason Show was considered too revealing and she was instructed to wear something else; however she appeared on the shows of Red Skelton, Dean Martin and Jack Benny without attracting controversy.
In addition to her Italian films, Lane was a frequent performer on the television show Toast of the Town during the 1950s. She also played guest roles in such series as The Flying Nun, The Brady Bunch, Hart to Hart and Vega$. She appeared in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) in the role of an airline stewardess.
She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to television, at 6381 Hollywood Boulevard
Ain't Misbehavin'
Abbe Lane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All by myself
No one to walk with
But I'm happy on the shelf
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you
I know for certain
I'm through with flirtin'
It's just you I'm thinkin' of
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you
Like Jack Horner
In the corner
Don't go nowhere
What do I care?
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
Believe me
I don't stay out late
Don't care to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you
Like Jack Horner
In the corner
Don't go nowhere
What do I care?
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
Believe me
I don't stay out late
Don't care to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you
The song "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Abbe Lane speaks of a woman who is content with being alone, as she believes she is saving all her love for the one person she truly loves. The first verse establishes her aloneness and happiness. She does not need anyone else to keep her company but rather enjoys her solitude. However, she reassures her lover, whom she knows to be the one for her, that her love is devoted only to him, implying that her current lonely state is temporary.
The second verse continues the idea of her undivided affection for her lover. She is "through with flirtin'" and makes it clear that he is the only one she thinks of. The line "I'm savin' my love for you" becomes much more meaningful in this verse. It is no longer just her decision to be alone but rather a decision made out of love for her partner.
The bridge changes the tone slightly, drawing a comparison to Jack Horner, a nursery rhyme character known for sticking his thumb into pies to pull out plums. The singer sees herself as similar to Jack, just waiting patiently in the corner, not going anywhere because the reward (her lover's kisses) is worth the wait. The use of this comparison emphasizes the singer's determination to remain true to her love.
The final verse reiterates her joy in being alone and emphasizes the simplicity of her life. She is content with being at home, listening to the radio, and thinking of her partner. The final line of the song, "I'm savin' my love for you," emphasizes once more that she is committed only to her lover.
Line by Line Meaning
No one to talk with
I have no one to share my feelings and thoughts with.
All by myself
I am alone and there is no one around me.
No one to walk with
I have no one to take a walk with.
But I'm happy on the shelf
Though I am alone, I am content with where I am.
Ain't misbehavin'
I am behaving and not engaging in any mischief.
I'm savin' my love for you
I am keeping my love reserved for only you.
I know for certain
I am sure and confident of my feelings.
The one I love
I have found the person I truly love.
I'm through with flirtin'
I am done flirting with others as I only have eyes for you.
It's just you I'm thinkin' of
You are always on my mind.
Like Jack Horner
Similar to Jack Horner.
In the corner
In a secluded place.
Don't go nowhere
I am not going anywhere.
What do I care?
I don't care about anything else except for you.
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I long for your kisses and they are worth waiting for.
Believe me
Trust me, what I am saying is true.
I don't stay out late
I don't usually stay out late.
Don't care to go
I have no interest in going anywhere without you.
I'm home about eight
I come back home around eight in the evening.
Just me and my radio
I usually spend time with just myself and my radio.
Ain't misbehavin'
I am still behaving and not causing any trouble.
I'm savin' my love for you
I am keeping my love only for you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind