Ain't Misbehavin'
Billy Butterfield Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

No one to talk with
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
The one I love
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

Overall Meaning

The song Ain't Misbehavin' by Billy Butterfield speaks about the importance of being faithful and saving one's love for that special person. The song begins with the singer expressing his loneliness and the absence of anyone to spend time with. Despite this, he claims to be content and states that he is not misbehaving, indicating that he is not looking for anyone else. The singer then goes on to express his love for one specific person, indicating that he is not interested in flirting with anyone else. He values his relationship with this person and is not willing to compromise his faithfulness towards them.


The reference to Jack Horner in the corner is interesting since it has been speculated that this line might be alluding to a traditional British nursery rhyme called "Little Jack Horner." The rhyme is about a boy named Jack who sat in a corner, stuck his thumb into a pie, and pulled out a plum. He then declared that he was a good boy, illustrating that he had been rewarded for his good behavior. In this context, the singer may be suggesting that he is like Jack Horner, sitting patiently and waiting for his reward in the form of his lover's kisses, knowing that they are worth waiting for.


Additionally, the repetition of the line "I'm savin' my love for you" emphasizes the singer's commitment to his relationship and his partner. The song suggests that the singer finds joy in being faithful and will not engage in any misbehavior because he is devoted to his love. The line "Just me and my radio" signifies the simplicity of the singer's life and how he finds contentment in spending time alone, listening to music and waiting for his loved one.


Overall, Ain't Misbehavin' by Billy Butterfield is a romantic, faithful and simple ode to love and commitment.


Line by Line Meaning

No one to talk with
I don't have anyone to converse with


All by myself
I'm alone


No one to walk with
I don't have anyone to stroll with


But I'm happy on the shelf
Even though I'm alone, I'm content with myself


Ain't misbehavin'
I'm well-behaved


I'm savin' my love for you
I'm keeping my love for you


I know for certain
I'm positive


The one I love
The person I adore


I'm through with flirtin'
I'm done with flirting


It's just you I'm thinkin' of
I'm only thinking about you


Like Jack Horner
Similar to Jack Horner


In the corner
In a secluded spot


Don't go nowhere
I'm not going anywhere


What do I care?
It doesn't matter to me


Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I'm willing to wait for your kisses


Believe me
Trust me


I don't stay out late
I don't remain outside for a long time


Don't care to go
I don't desire to attend anything


I'm home about eight
I'm home approximately at eight o'clock


Just me and my radio
Only me listening to the radio


Ain't misbehavin'
I'm well-behaved


I'm savin' my love for you
I'm keeping my love for you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Barnabas

Beautiful playing so Jazzy . Love it

wyndhl eodumegwu

So many great artists have been fame-and- renown short circuited; Billy Butterfield is among them.

He has been such an impressive and lyrical trumpeter.

Paul Griffin

I grew up in Manhasset, NY and Billy was a long time family friend and neighbor...he and my dad worked together in the studios of NYC. As a matter of fact, Billy is in the trumpet section of a tribute video that I just uploaded to my father..."Isn't It Romantic" by Chris Griffin. I used to visit with Billy when he moved to Newport News, VA. He and I would take our trumpets deep into the woods where we would practice and commune with nature...special times. He also gave me some of his own big band arrangements to perform with the Navy band that I was with. My dad was in the trumpet section of a featured recording of Billy, "Prayer For Trumpet" (Not "Trumpeter's Prayer" which Conrad Gozzo recorded.) Billy never got a copy of this so I gave him our only copy. (Would love to hear this again) He was a wonderful player. Billy and my dad had similar trumpet sounds, as can be discerned from the above mentioned "Isn't It Romantic." My dad shared with me some amusing stories about Billy...some I can share...others? 

Wayne Colburn

chris griffin your Dad was great too.I think he knew my grandfather Bunny Berigan. I loved Billy Butterfield too.

Dan Schlieben

Hi Paul: I remember BB when he came to the Roslyn HS for an assembly. Knew he was a special player but not the full extent as a 14 YO. Knew your father too when I taught at Pee Wee Irwin's music school in Teaneck, NJ. (Warren Vache was also around then too.) We talked via Internet more recently about your real estate problems. Feel free to contact me again if you like, maybe on FB.

Gene Alley

I had the pleasure of meeting Billy Butterfield at the City Club (jazz dinner club), in Palm Beach in the mid-eighties. We often went to the club to see & listen to some great jazz groups. Billy was there in the audience seated with his wife. My friend & I (both local trumpet players) seemed to be the only ones who recognized him. He was very gracious, and actually invited us to be seated at his table. Sadly, he passed a couple years after that.

Michael Sammin

Billy Butterfield.  The most underrated trumpet player of the 20th century.   

Doug Houseworth

I agree. First heard him on a jazz demo recording of Willow Weep for me in 1962. Got to meet him in 1970 when he played at Gig’s Place in Harbor Springs. He was a master.

u47tube

Yeah, Billy, a real legend.

fernando garcia

Grandioso!

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