My Baby Just Cares For Me
Jack Payne and His Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My baby don't care for shows
My baby don't care for clothes
My baby just cares for me
My baby don't care for furs and laces
My baby don't care for high-tone places
My baby don't care for rings
Or other expensive things
She's sensible as can be

My baby don't care who knows it
My baby just cares for me

My baby's no Crosby fan, Dick Tracy is not her man,
My baby just cares for me
My baby don't care for Mr. Tibbits
She'd rather have me around to kibbits
Roy Rogers is not her style and even Clark Gable's smile
Is something that she can't see
(oh, you lucky so-and-so)

I wonder what's wrong with baby,
My baby just cares for me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "My Baby Just Cares for Me" by Jack Payne and His Band describe a woman who is uninterested in material possessions and popular culture, and who instead cares only for her partner. The song paints her as frugal, practical, and independent, rejecting the ostentatious displays of wealth and status that are often associated with romantic partners in popular media. In contrast to her disinterest in luxury, the woman is deeply devoted to her lover, who she values above all else. Even though her tastes differ from those of her partner, the simplicity and authenticity of her affection ultimately win him over.

The lyrics offer a refreshing take on romantic relationships, which are often portrayed as transactional or superficial in popular culture. By emphasizing the importance of emotional connection and compatibility over material goods and societal status, the song celebrates love in its purest form. The repetition of the phrase "My baby just cares for me" reinforces this theme, drawing attention to the simplicity and singularity of the woman's affection.

Line by Line Meaning

My baby don't care for shows
My beloved is not interested in fancy shows or entertainment events

My baby don't care for clothes
My beloved is not interested in fashionable clothes or accessories

My baby just cares for me
My beloved solely loves my presence and company

My baby don't care for furs and laces
My beloved is not interested in luxurious items like expensive furs and delicate lace

My baby don't care for high-tone places
My beloved is not interested in upper-class, extravagant places or activities

My baby don't care for rings
My beloved is not interested in pricey jewelry or other expensive things like rings

Or other expensive things
My beloved does not have an affinity for any other costly possession

She's sensible as can be
My beloved is a practical person, with a reasonable and down-to-earth mindset

My baby don't care who knows it
My beloved does not care if anyone else knows about her preferences

My baby just cares for me
My beloved solely loves my presence and company

My baby's no Crosby fan, Dick Tracy is not her man
My beloved does not like Bing Crosby or find any interest in Dick Tracy

My baby don't care for Mr. Tibbits
My beloved is not interested in other people or social status

She'd rather have me around to kibbits
My beloved prefers to have me around to engage in relaxed and informal conversation or gossip

Roy Rogers is not her style and even Clark Gable's smile
My beloved does not find Roy Rogers appealing, nor does she find Clark Gable's smile charming

Is something that she can't see
My beloved does not find celebrities attractive or fascinating

(oh, you lucky so-and-so)
Note for the singer to comment on being lucky to have such a practical and down-to-earth beloved

I wonder what's wrong with baby,
The singer is wondering about what is wrong with their beloved, as she is not interested in materialistic things and finds comfort in just being with the singer

My baby just cares for me.
My beloved solely loves my presence and company

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@Firebrand55

5y↑16

This is actually a British syncopation masterpiece. No other recorded version comes close to it's tight, lilting swing long before the Swing Age..are you sitting still?....you won't be by the time this gem ends!

@Firebrand55

5y↑9

Five years before the Great Swing Age and this number swings like no other. An inspired recording that shows what many British bands were playing between the Wars.

@Firebrand55

5y↑16

Once in a lifetime a tune is performed perfectly.....this is one time. This Jack Payne arrangement exemplifies syncopated swing, what you might call in English terms, ' a splendid effort'.....it stands repeated playing....try humming it; it will get to you.....and stay.

@davidmcdonald8041

2y↑1

Very well said. It's a symphony of that roaring age.

@nandofigueira2005

8y↑10

this song is a gem

@Hey_its_Koda

1y↑1

I love this one.

@kirbywaite1586

17w

This is wonderful.

@Daviej5700

2y↑1

Wonderful👍👍

@anitanuthurgun984

29w

Yes yes more yes...

@bellini7verdi

13y↑2

para mi que esta musica era antigua......porque la escuhe de los años 70 con nina simon......y escuchar esta version..de los 30....me deja pasmado........y es como si encontrara a tutankamon entre vendajes.....pero encantado con desenvolverlos todos............esto es la hostia........viva la arqueologia musical....y arquitectonica y pictorica y literaria....y de todo tipo.......este mundo es walt disney.......pero en real......una pasadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

@neilvansteemburg6808

3y↑1

This is how this song should sound. This will get your motor running for sure! Oh baby! It's hot!

@merrihew

16y↑6

This is just about the time that the British bands were establishing their own unique sound instead of just copying the American arrangements. Very distinctive version of a great 20's tune.

@jamesjordan5214

9y↑12

Great music from the past, at its best! Not my era, but I know great music when I hear it!

@jamesjordan5214

8y↑1

Swing it out, guys!

@Jonny-ge2rk

@@jamesjordan5214 Great music is out of time. Masterpice..

@clive6479

11y↑2

I love this stuff - how can one be sad after listening to this?!

@merrihew

16y↑1

Thank you for the kind words. I am genuinely touched by some of the comments I get. Especially when I hear from relatives of long departed performers who have never heard or seen on film their ancestors before.

@williamcall334

Simply marvolous!

@MrGallagher

14y↑1

That is definitely one of my favourite parts to this film, watching the dancing girls in the background chuckle behind Eddie Cantor as he's doing his antics. And Whoopie still holds up! Just rewatched it recently, thought I'd find it corny at this point, but it still had me in stitches. "Except February, which has 28" is still a phrase I use when someone starts pontificating. :-D And the numbers are wonderful! :-)

@alexmckenna1171

14y↑7

Such LIFE to the bands of this period. Madcap, not always perfectly played, but great syncopated rhythm. Franky the later 1940s Swing stuff isn't as exciting. More plastic. No surprises.

@georgecripe4898

There are so many great recordings of this song and this is very high on my list. Les Brown had a 50's version that is quite good. Thanks for posting this one.

@mainaccount131

Delightful

@HarborGuy

13y

Many thanks.......

@HarborGuy

15y

Wonderful as usual - 5 Stars!

@kla486

Grazie Raphael ❤

@HeadHunter131

15y

Toller Sound!

@WillAdamsmusic

16y

This is a great arrangement

@Ronald070

13y

Great recording!

@pianoman74

15y

speaking of which, that sound is by far not dead! Max Raabe and his Palastorchester still preserves that sound in present time! :)

@pianoman74

12y

Ah yes! Thanks for the information. Since I am located in Europe, I have not much knowledge about the current U.S. "scene" playing this vintage big band style of music.

@harrylangdon491

Don't miss Eddie Cantor's rendition from "Whoopee" (1930).

@petelush

12y

My thoughts exactly. I watched Cantor sing in Whoopee many times (I even had the laserdisc, now I watch on a homemade DVD). I watch chorus girls and other bit players in many musicals -- once you take your eyes off the main performer you will see many interesting things, including who is "close" to the director -- figure it out by who gets more attention than the other chorines.

@merrihew

16y

I've been very lucky to happen upon several huge collections at a time when there was little or no interest in them. I've had this discussion with a number of Youtubers. Perhaps it was just a natural maturing process of the band leaders trying to establish their own identities. Another factor is the unique acoustic of many of the early '30's English records. Sounds like they were recorded in a large space with a bit of reverb. American records were made in small studios.

@baghend

13y↑1

Wow! Hot patootties oh you kid and 23 skidoo! This is great thanks -Bill

@arafura84

16y↑3

"My baby just cares for me well that's funny Her touch tickles especially on my tummy"

@NancyDrewe

12y

You're very welcome! I looked at your page and you have a lot of interesting music. I see you like all kinds of music, like I do. :)) Grusse, Nancy

@NancyDrewe

12y

As well as Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks who have a steady gig in NYC weekly at a club (supper club type thingy), but I've not been to any of their shows there. I'll have to check out Max R. Sounds familiar. Thanks..

@mercyday7833

How I love 💕🖤
I'm just for you baby

@mercyday7833

But I dont have a baby , yet

@pianoman74

15y↑2

haha this sound reminds of Looney Tunes and the like :) there's a German song I know that has that sound, "Jawoll meine Herrn" by Heinz Ruehmann in 1937

@SoopaFlyism

8y↑2

Dang.. this is fast! How were people dancing to this.

@phredl

There were lots of "quick steps" that you could do to this including the peabody and one step.

@brianking7438

Dances such as Lindy Hop, Shag etc are possible to this music.

@davidglow3

15y↑2

The british bands played with vigour and speed in early 30s,whilst a lot of US bands adopted the sweet approach for a lot of arrangements.l know which l prefer

@Firebrand55

New York, New York!....lucky you.......what's happening in 52nd St. these days, jazz- wise?

@ellimac4

15y

fun

@evensteve284

14y

@mic33george Music of this era often annoys me, while I find the music that came later more interesting. The more I listen2 this era the more I learn about the music that I do like. I think that I will soon come2 like this music2. 1thing that I find interesting right now is how the music of the late 40s evolved and splintered in2 Rock Swing Bebop etc. I think I need2 look at the music from this era in the same way, &B listening 2 how it evolved into the 40s. & Ur 100%right about its pep!

@racingrubberbiker

15y

Sorry RReady555, but Wikipedia is wrong. Ruth Etting did not appear in "Whoppee" but as the slave girl in "Roman Scandals".

@essexpeter6116

Great sound ahead of it's time. Did Payne do his own arrangements?
Could be Jack Jackson scat singing perhaps?
Apparently Payne was not a nice person to work for.

@kukral

14y

This is great music! I love the stuff BEFORE the Big Bands of the 40s-- their music puts me to sleep. Why did the music of the 40s become so boring compared to the 20s and early 30s??? I always wonder about this.

@fog99uk

14y

@kukral That would be World War 2

@RatPfink66

14y↑1

The British economy was a little better - I think that explained a lot - and their music scene wasn't so dominated by commercial radio.

@Top_Hat_Man

4y↑1

This Song Should Be A Meme.

@Firebrand55

9y↑1

In a 2015 musical world where big band syncopation,swing and rhythym are dead, MBJCFM stands out like a beacon, showing what is sorely missed. Whose feet can stay still at this rhythym?

@JohnBianchi

8y↑2

+Firebrand55 Apprciate your love of this tune - perhaps my favorite, but not so, not dead. I am lucky to live in a place where every night, I can go out and hear at least a dozen bands from 3 to 17 pieces playing nothing but music from the 20's and 30's. There are so many good bands out there right now that it's hard to choose which to see on any given night or week. We're in the renaissance of traditional jazz right now, and don't listen when they tell you that this music is gone. There are as many people playing it now as there were then, and I am humbled that I'm one of the older guys playing - many, if not most, are in their 20s and 30s and they're the best there is or ever was. It's great to be living and playing this music, and right now.