I Ain't Got Nobody
Basie's Bad Boys Lyrics


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Now I, ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me
And I'm so sad and lonely
Won't somebody take a chance with me

I'll sing sweet love songs, honey, all the time
If you'll come and be my sweet baby, mine
I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me
I ain't got nobody, nobody much
Nobody cares for me
I'm so sad and lonely, because I'm homely
Won't somebody take a chance with me

I'll sing sweet love songs, honey, all of the time




If you'll come and be my sweet baby, mine
I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me

Overall Meaning

Basie's Bad Boys's song "I Ain’t Got Nobody" is a poignant expression of loneliness and longing. The lyrics convey the deep sadness of not having anyone to care for and love. The repeated use of the phrase "nobody cares for me" speaks to the human need for connection and companionship. The singer's plea for a chance at love is an appeal to the listener's empathy and understanding.


The song also employs the use of irony in the lines, "I'll sing sweet love songs, honey, all the time / If you'll come and be my sweet baby, mine." The singer promises to sing love songs if someone will love him in return; however, he is currently alone and has no lover to sing to. The irony is that the love songs he is promising to sing cannot exist without the reciprocated love and companionship he is seeking.


Overall, the song is a sorrowful yet hopeful message of the human desire to love and be loved. It speaks to universal feelings of loneliness and the hope for finding that special someone to share life with.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I, ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me
I am feeling completely alone and abandoned, as no one seems to care for me or be there for me in any way.


And I'm so sad and lonely
My sadness and loneliness have fully consumed me, leaving me feeling completely desolate and alone.


Won't somebody take a chance with me
Despite feeling alone and abandoned, I am still longing for someone (anyone) to offer me a chance to connect and build a relationship with them.


I'll sing sweet love songs, honey, all the time
If given the chance, I would use my talent for singing to shower my significant other with love and affection, making them feel cherished and adored.


If you'll come and be my sweet baby, mine
In exchange for the chance to love and care for someone, I am offering to shower them with affection, calling them my 'sweet baby' and promising to make them mine.


I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me
The overall message of the song remains unchanged: despite my best efforts, I still feel completely alone and abandoned, with no one showing me the care and affection that I so desperately desire.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER GRAHAM, SPENCER WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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