It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Feat. Ivie Anderson Lyrics
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If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
The song "It Don't Mean A Thing" by Duke Ellington (and famously covered by Ella Fitzgerald) is a playful, upbeat tune celebrating the importance of that intangible musical quality known as "swing." The lyrics emphasize that no matter how sweet or hot a song may be, if it doesn't have that rhythmic vitality and energy, then it ultimately falls flat. The repeated refrain of "doo wah" serves as a catchy, scat-like filler, emphasizing the pulsing beat of the music.
What's interesting about these lyrics is that they can be read as a broader metaphor for life itself. Just as a song needs swing to come alive, perhaps life needs a certain sense of rhythm, momentum, and joy to truly thrive. The song's upbeat, carefree melody encourages listeners to let loose and enjoy the moment, rather than getting bogged down in perfectionism or overthinking.
Overall, "It Don't Mean A Thing" is a delightful paean to the power and joy of music, and a reminder that sometimes the most important thing is simply to let the rhythm move you.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't mean a thing
Success can be empty without true beauty and style
If it ain't got that swing
Without passion and excitement, nothing is truly worthwhile
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Musical interlude
It don't mean a thing
Success can be empty without true beauty and style
All you got to do is sing
You can make something special just by putting your heart and soul into it
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Musical interlude
It makes no diff'rence
It doesn't matter
If it's sweet or hot
Whether it's a slow ballad or an upbeat track
Just give that rhythm
Put all of your energy into the beat
Ev'rything you got
Give it your all
Oh, it don't mean a thing
Success can be empty without true beauty and style
If it ain't got that swing
Without passion and excitement, nothing is truly worthwhile
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Musical interlude
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, IRVING MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giuse1525
Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing
Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah
It makes no difference
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Everything you've got
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
Doo-ah, doo-ah
Don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing
Doo-ah, doo-ah
It makes no difference
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Everything you've got
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah
It makes no
@gyeongjeong9682
It don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It makes no diff'rence
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
@stephenmcguire7801
So well-produced with '32 technology. There is a sound quality to this era which stands out, even when compared to the new ways.
@phaasch
I know what you mean- there's a visceral punch and immediacy which, for all technical advances, cannot be found today. Studio acoustics setup played a large part, plus band members who had the ear and skill to create their own "internal" balance of sound.
@MattKlocke
You know when they transfer the audio from the record into digital version, they remove the crackles and stuff, if you listened to this on record, it would sound crackly and somewhat distorted
@jakubi7
Yes, I love the 30s Jazz music
@netzahuacoyotl
@@MattKlockeit depends on the individual record it was transferred from. Most copies from that era were played with steel needles and generally treated roughly. The master, if available would require little digital cleaning. But regardless of the source, you can’t remove distortion if it exists in the source. Maybe now with AI? But cleaning the crackles and pops combined with a proper EQ curve will let you hear pretty much what was recorded. I have some 78 rpm records from the late 40s/ early 50s that sound amazing played with a proper stylus and 78 EQ on the preamp. Clean, present great mono image.
@MattKlocke
@@netzahuacoyotl Yeah they usually do it with AI, but I agree, most of the YouTube digitalized 1930s music was done with very clean copies and then they remove the surface noise and enhance it somewhat
@kylegrove294
We will never see this type of musicianship ever again…peace and power to the ancestors ✊🏾💯🔥
@Judieeasze
W comment
@MoreFormosa
How many songs are people familiar with that were written in 1931 and recorded in '32? Talk about staying power. Epic catchy tune from nearly a CENTURY ago.
@muttley918
My grandfather had a big band in the late 20’s and 30’s. He played a “licorice” stick. Commonly called a clarinet. He could get down.