Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
He Ain't Got Rhythm
Irving Berlin Lyrics
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Every night he sits in the house alone
He ain't got rhythm
Every night he sits there and wears a frown
He attracted some attention
When he found the fourth dimension
But he ain't got rhythm
So no one's with him
Oh, lonely man is he
Bending over his books
His wife and family
Keep giving him dirty looks
'Cause he ain't got rhythm
When they call him up
It's to call him down
With that daring aviator
He encircled the equator
But he ain't got rhythm
So no one's with him
Loneliest man in town
The Irving Berlin song "He Ain't Got Rhythm" is a lament about a man who, despite his other accomplishments, simply cannot dance. The opening lines state, "Cause he ain't got rhythm, every night he sits in the house alone." The singer goes on to describe how the man has made notable achievements, such as discovering the fourth dimension and completing a daring flight around the equator, but none of this matters because he is unable to keep a beat. As a result, he is the "loneliest man in town."
The song is both funny and poignant. On one hand, it is a humorous portrayal of a man who is so uncoordinated that he can't even keep time with music. On the other hand, it's a sad commentary on how our flaws can cause us to be ostracized from society. The man in the song may have other talents, but his lack of rhythm is all anyone notices.
The refrain, "But he ain't got rhythm, so no one's with him, loneliest man in town," is a powerful statement about how our flaws can isolate us from others. Despite the man's accomplishments and intelligence, he is alone because he cannot dance. It's a reminder that as individuals, we all have something that sets us apart; something that we need to work to accept and use to our advantage.
Line by Line Meaning
'Cause he ain't got rhythm
His lack of musicality keeps him from being the life of the party
Every night he sits in the house alone
He spends his evenings by himself and does not engage with others
He ain't got rhythm
His movements lack a certain finesse and coordination
Every night he sits there and wears a frown
He's always unhappy and seems to enjoy nothing in life
He attracted some attention
People took notice when he achieved something noteworthy
When he found the fourth dimension
He made a scientific discovery that impressed others
But he ain't got rhythm
His social skills are lacking and he struggles to connect with others
So no one's with him
He leads a solitary existence without the company of others
The loneliest man in town
He's known to all as the most solitary and friendless individual in the area
Oh, lonely man is he
He's a very solitary individual, with few if any friends
Bending over his books
He spends most of his time studying or reading, instead of engaging with others
His wife and family
The people who love him most
Keep giving him dirty looks
They disapprove of his lack of social skills and general unhappiness
When they call him up
Whenever they get in touch with him
It's to call him down
It's to criticize or chastise him for something
With that daring aviator
He accomplished a great feat that impressed others
He encircled the equator
He completed a journey around the earth, an impressive achievement
Loneliest man in town
He's known to all as the most solitary and friendless individual in the area
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: BERLIN, IRVING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind