Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
T'ain't What You Do
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I miss it, each night and day
The longer I stay away
Miss the moist covered vines
The tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds use to sing
And I like to see the lazy Mississippi
The Mardi Gras memories
Of creole tunes that fill the air
I dream of oleanders in June
And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Do you know what is means to miss New Orleans
And there is something more
I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
In Ella Fitzgerald's song "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans," the lyrics delve into the theme of nostalgia for the city of New Orleans. The song lyrics express Ella Fitzgerald's longing to return to the city's familiar settings, sounds, and memories. She misses it each day and night, but the more she stays away, the more she aches for the sights she used to know so well. The moist covered vines, the tall sugar pines, and the lazy Mississippi River are all pieces of New Orleans that she dearly misses. She also reminisces about the Mardi Gras memories and the creole tunes that used to fill the air. She yearns for oleanders blooming in June and wishes she could be there to experience it all once again.
While the song is about Ella Fitzgerald's longing for New Orleans, it is also says something about the human condition in general. People have a natural inclination to miss someone or something when they are not there, and to long for a return to the familiar. This feeling of nostalgia, whether it be for a place, person or thing, is universal and this song is a perfect representation of that.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know what is means to miss New Orleans
Have you ever experienced the feeling of longing for New Orleans?
I miss it, each night and day
I feel the absence of New Orleans every moment, whether it's day or night
The longer I stay away
As time passes, my longing for New Orleans grows stronger
Miss the moist covered vines
I yearn for the sight of damp vines
The tall sugar pines
I miss the sight of the tall sugar pines
Where mocking birds use to sing
In the past, mocking birds would sing there, and I miss that too
And I like to see the lazy Mississippi
I enjoy seeing the Mississippi River flow slowly and calmly
Are hurrying to spring
As if rushing towards the season of rebirth, spring
The Mardi Gras memories
I fondly remember the festive atmosphere of Mardi Gras
Of creole tunes that fill the air
I remember the sound of Creole music that would fill the air during Mardi Gras
I dream of oleanders in June
I long to see the oleanders blooming in June
And soon I'm wishing that I was there
Before I know it, I am yearning to be back in New Orleans
And there is something more
In addition to my desire for New Orleans, there is another thing I miss
I miss the one I care for
More than anything, I miss the person I love
More than I miss New Orleans
My longing for that person exceeds even my yearning for New Orleans
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie De Lange, Louis Alter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PaolaGonzalez-tf5pn
When I was a kid about half past three
My ma said, "Daughter, come here to me"
Says, "Things may come and things may go
But this is one thing you ought to know"
Oh, 'tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
That's what gets results
You can try hard, don't mean a thing
Take it easy, breezy, then your jive will swing
Oh, it 'tain't what you do; it's the place that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results
You've learned your A B C's
You've learned your D F G's
But this is something you don't learn in school
So get your hep boots on
And then you'll carry on
But remember if you try too hard
It don't mean a thing, take it easy
'Tain't what bring do; it's the way that you bring it
'Tain't what swing do; it's the way that you swing it
'Tain't what sing do; it's the way that you sing it
That's what gets results
That's what gets results, rebop
@diosferina21
"T'aint What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)"
When I was a kid about half past three
My ma said: "Daughter, come here to me"
Said things may come and things may go
But this is one thing you ought to know
Oh 't ain't what you do it's the way that you do it
'T ain't what you do it's the way that you do it
'T ain't what you do it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results
'T ain't what you do it's the time that you do it
'T ain't what you do it's the time that you do it
'T ain't what you do it's the time that you do it
That's what gets results
You can try hard
Don't mean a thing
Take it easy, greasy
Then your jive will swing
Oh, 't ain't what you do it's the place that you do it
'T ain't what you do it's the time that you do it
'T ain't what you do it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results
You've learned your ABC's
You've learned your DFG's
But this is something you don't learn in school
So get your hip boots on
And then you'll carry on
But remember if you're tryin' too hard
It don't mean a thing
Take it easy
('T ain't what you bring it's the way that you bring it
'T ain't what you swing it's the way that you swing it
'T ain't what you sing)
It's the way that you sing it (That's what gets results).
@MrDinosabri
I love how Lolita dances to this.
@viyankaperez3758
Best 💕movies every
@imanim4844
Very emotional movie. Good one too! But the concept is too screwed up for me to ever watch it again. It messed with my head
@leticiamartins8140
dominique swain dancing to it💕💕
@smoochilove166
I know! That was funny!
@chloevictoria8966
I love how everyone is here for Lolita
@richardshansky3040
Chloe Victoria not me. Just love SWING
@imanim4844
Here for Ella Fitzgerald 100% but I did see Lolita
@ghrasta.
I’m here from Macarena somehow
@PaolaGonzalez-tf5pn
When I was a kid about half past three
My ma said, "Daughter, come here to me"
Says, "Things may come and things may go
But this is one thing you ought to know"
Oh, 'tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
That's what gets results
You can try hard, don't mean a thing
Take it easy, breezy, then your jive will swing
Oh, it 'tain't what you do; it's the place that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results
You've learned your A B C's
You've learned your D F G's
But this is something you don't learn in school
So get your hep boots on
And then you'll carry on
But remember if you try too hard
It don't mean a thing, take it easy
'Tain't what bring do; it's the way that you bring it
'Tain't what swing do; it's the way that you swing it
'Tain't what sing do; it's the way that you sing it
That's what gets results
That's what gets results, rebop