Bostic was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He turned professional at age 18 when he joined Terrence Holder's band. He made his first recording with Lionel Hampton in 1942 where he played along with Red Allen, J.C. Higginbotham, Sid Catlett, Teddy Wilson and Hampton. Before that he performed with Fate Marable on New Orleans riverboats. Bostic graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans. He worked with territory bands as well as Arnett Cobb, Hot Lips Page, Rex Stewart, Don Byas, Charlie Christian, Thelonious Monk and other jazz luminaries. He formed his own band in 1945, and turned to rhythm and blues in the late 1940s. His biggest hits were "Temptation," "Sleep," "Flamingo," "You Go to My Head" and "Cherokee." At various times his band included Jaki Byard, John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Blue Mitchell, Stanley Turrentine, Tommy Turrentine, Keter Betts, Sir Charles Thompson, Teddy Edwards, Tony Scott, Benny Carter and other musicians who rose to prominence in jazz. Bostic held his musicians to a high standard and demanded that they read music faultlessly. He was influenced by the great Sidney Bechet. John Coltrane in turn was influenced by Earl Bostic. James Moody said that Bostic was the chief influence on John Coltrane. Moody mentioned that "Bostic knew his instrument inside out, back to front and upside down."
His virtuosity is documented in records such as Up There In Orbit, Earl's Imagination, Apollo Theater Jump, All On, Artistry by Bostic, Telestar Drive, Liza, Lady Be Good and Tiger Rag. Bostic was a master of the blues and he used this skill in a variety of musical settings. Although Bostic recorded many commercial albums, some notable jazz based exceptions on the King label include Bostic Rocks Hits of the Swing Age, Jazz As I Feel It and A New Sound.
Bostic's King album titled Jazz As I Feel It featured Shelly Manne on drums, Joe Pass on guitar and Groove Holmes on organ. Bostic recorded the King Album "A New Sound" about one month later again, featuring Holmes and Pass. These recordings allowed Bostic to stretch out beyond the 3 minute limit imposed by the 45 RPM format. Bostic was pleased with the sessions which highlight his total mastery of the blues but they also foreshadowed musical advances that were later evident in the work of John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy.
He wrote arrangements for Paul Whiteman, Louis Prima, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden and Alvino Rey.
Bostic's signature hit, "Flamingo" was recorded in 1951 and remains a favorite among followers of Carolina Beach Music in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Their style of Beach Music is heavily influenced by Rhythm-and-Blues music from the 40's, 50's and 60's. Bostic recorded for Cincinnati-based King Records, a small label that was well known for releasing "R and B" and Bluegrass records. In fact, the biggest star on the King label was "the Godfather of Soul", James Brown. Bostic was also popular among R&B and jazz followers in the United Kingdom, thanks to his records that were released on the Parlophone label.
Bostic died from a heart attack in Rochester, New York, while performing with his band in 1965. His widow, Hildegarde, was still living in San Francisco as of the mid-1990s.
Aint Misbehavin
Earl Bostic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics of Earl Bostic's song Ain't Misbehavin' convey a sense of contentment and loyalty, despite being alone. The singer outlines how they have no one to talk with or walk with, but they are happy being alone and saving their love for the one they truly love. They declare they have finished flirting and that the person they love is the only one they are thinking of. The line "Ain't misbehavin'" seems to suggest that despite being alone, the singer is not being unfaithful, reckless or disrespectful. They are simply saving their love for the right person.
The lyrics also contain an interesting metaphor. The singer compares themselves to Jack Horner, a character from a 17th-century nursery rhyme who was known for sitting in a corner and eating a pie. The line "Like Jack Horner in the corner, don't go nowhere, what do I care?" implies that the singer is happy to sit and wait for their love, much like Jack Horner was happy to eat his pie.
Overall, the lyrics of Ain't Misbehavin' convey a sense of patience, loyalty and contentment, despite being alone.
Line by Line Meaning
No one to talk with
I have nobody to converse with.
All by myself
I am alone and without company.
No one to walk with
I do not have a companion to stroll with.
But I'm happy on the shelf
Even though I am alone, I am content in my own space.
Ain't misbehavin'
I am well-behaved and not causing trouble.
I'm savin' my love for you
I am keeping my love and affection solely for you.
I know for certain
I am confident and sure.
The one I love
The person I am in love with.
I'm through with flirtin'
I am no longer engaging in flirtatious behavior.
It's just you I'm thinkin' of
I only have thoughts for you and no one else.
Like Jack Horner
Similar to the nursery rhyme character Jack Horner.
In the corner
Standing alone in a corner.
Don't go nowhere
I have no desire to leave this place or situation.
What do I care?
I am indifferent and not concerned.
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I am willing to wait for your affection because it is valuable to me.
Believe me
Trust me, what I am saying is true.
I don't stay out late
I do not spend time outside late into the night.
Don't care to go
I have no interest in leaving my current location or situation.
I'm home about eight
I arrive home around 8:00 PM.
Just me and my radio
I am alone with my radio for company.
Ain't misbehavin'
I am staying out of trouble and behaving responsibly.
I'm savin' my love for you
I am keeping all my affection and devotion for you alone.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY RAZAF, FATS WALLER, HARRY BROOKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind