I Ain't Got Nobody
Cab Calloway Lyrics


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Say, I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me!
That's why I'm sad and lonely,
Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?

Sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
Oh, I ain't got no, no, no, nobody, nobody cares for me!
Sing you love songs, honey, all the time,




If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
Oh, I ain't got no, no, no, nobody, nobody cares for me!

Overall Meaning

In Cab Calloway's song "I Ain't Got Nobody," the singer expresses his lack of companionship and the loneliness that comes with it. The opening lines, "Say, I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me!" convey his feelings of abandonment and disconnection from others. He goes on to lament his sadness and express a desire for someone to take a chance with him, indicating that he is willing to put in the effort to form a connection with someone.


The singer then sings about his willingness to sing love songs to his potential partner, begging for her to be his "sweet gal." The repetition of the phrase "Sing you love songs, honey, all the time" emphasizes his desperation to find someone to love and care for him. The repetition of the refrain, "Oh, I ain't got no, no, no, nobody, nobody cares for me," drives home the sense of isolation and sadness that the singer feels.


Overall, the song reflects the universal human desire for companionship and love, while also acknowledging the pain and emptiness that can come with being alone.


Line by Line Meaning

Say, I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me!
I'm all alone and nobody is there for me, which makes me sad and lonely.


That's why I'm sad and lonely,
Being alone without anyone to share life with, makes me feel unhappy and isolated.


Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?
Is there anyone who is willing to give me a chance in life and be my companion?


Sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
If you agree to be with me, I will sing sweet love songs to you all the time.


If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
If you promise to be my sweet and loving companion, I will be very happy.


Oh, I ain't got no, no, no, nobody, nobody cares for me!
I am still alone and there is no one who cares for me, which makes me feel miserable.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roger Graham, Spencer Williams

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Henri de Lagardère

0:38 Doc Cheatham (tp) - 1:44 Arville Harris (as) - 2:12 Benny Payne (p). This is one of only six sides Cab cut in 1935, a particularly lean year as far as recordings went but a transitional one in the evolution of a great jazz ensemble. The summer of that seminal year was still young and by the time it was drawing to a close America was under the spell of the swing craze. And when you listen to Cab's trumpet trio in unison, the delicious reed section, still a bit rough around the edges but already candidly Carterian-colored, the short but brisk solos, the overall drive, you feel very closely what Cab and the boys must have been feeling: The era of big band swing was about to break loose, and the Calloway congregation, quickly moving from a mere vehicle for its flamboyant leader to a serious contender, tight sections and passages, gripping harmonisations, riffing and drilling et al was ready, willing and able to get a piece of the action ... as one of the best big bands in the business.

RatPfink66

Sure that alto isn’t Eddie Barefield?

mark 303

Henri de Lagardère 😁😆😁😆

Henri de Lagardère

Drum roll, Mark. you found the papaya in the fruit bowl! And how'd you fancy a bit of rhythmic drilling?

mark 303

Henri de Lagardère I’m quite partial to “tight passages”

The Last Taarakian

Cab Calloway and this song? Pure gold next to louis prima (with keely smith) and david lee roth only 30 years and 50 years before respectively. Amazing!

madAdam

Say, I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me!
That's why I'm sad and lonely,
Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?







Sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
Oh, I ain't got no, no, no, nobody, nobody cares for me!
Sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
Oh, I ain't got no, no, no, nobody, nobody cares for me!

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