It Don't Mean a Thing
Andre Previn with Mundell Lowe and Ray Brown Lyrics

The main message conveyed by this song is that no matter how good a piece of music is, it will not be enjoyable or satisfying if it doesn't have the right amount of swing in it. Swing being the rhythmic movement that makes people want to move, dance, or tap their feet, which is the essence of jazz music. The use of the repeated scat syllables, "doo wah", drive the point of the message and add to the rhythm and swing of the song.

The opening line of the song sets the tone for the rest of the piece, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing", which emphasizes that the most important aspect of music is not how it sounds, but how it feels. Another important aspect of the song is its focus on rhythm and the idea that the rhythm is the backbone of any good tune. This is emphasized by the line, "Just give that rhythm everything you got". This song is classic in the sense that it became the anthem of the Swing Era of Jazz, and remains a hallmark of swing music.