McShann was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and began working as a professional musician in 1931, performing around Tulsa, Oklahoma and neighboring Arkansas. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1936, and set up his own big band, which featured Charlie Parker (from 1937 to 1942), Bernard Anderson, Ben Webster and Walter Brown. Although its book included both swing and blues numbers, the band played blues on most of its records; its most popular recording was "Confessin' the Blues." The group disbanded when McShann was drafted into the Army in 1944, and he was unable to successfully restart it when he got out.
After the war McShann began to lead small groups featuring blues shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. Witherspoon started recording with McShann in 1945, and fronting McShann's band, had a hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business." McShann then played in obscurity until 1969, when he became popular as a singer as well as a pianist, often performing with Claude Williams. He continued recording and touring through the 1990s. Well into his 80s McShann still performed occasionally, particularly in the Kansas City area and Toronto Ontario.
Crime-fiction writer Elmore Leonard featured McShann as a character in his 2005 novel, The Hot Kid.
On December 7, 2006, McShann died at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City.
'Tain't Nobody's Biz'ness If I Do
Jay McShann Lyrics
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That folks don't criticise me,
But I'm going to do just as I want to anyway,
And don't care if you all despise me!
If I should take a notion
To jump into the ocean,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do!
If I go to church on Sunday,
Then just shimmy down on Monday,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
If my friend ain't got no money,
And I say, "Take all mine, honey",
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!
If I give him my lasy nickel,
And it leaves me in a pickle,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
There, I'd rather my man was hittin' me,
Than to jump right up and quittin' me,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!
I swear I won't call no copper
If I'm beat up by my papa,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
The lyrics of Jay McShann & Al Casey's song 'Deed I Do' speaks of a sense of individualism and independence. The opening lines "There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can say, That folks don't criticise me" suggests that no matter what people will always have something to say or critique about one's actions. But the singer expresses a certain disregard for people's opinions on how they live their life, stating that they will do what they want anyway, regardless of the criticism they may receive. The repeated line "T'ain't nobody's business if I do" reinforces this idea of personal sovereignty, suggesting that people should have the freedom to live their life as they see fit without interference from onlookers.
The verses that follow provide examples of this 'do what I want' mentality, where the singer talks about jumping into the ocean or going to church and then shimming down on Monday. These lines suggest a balancing act between doing what they want and still maintaining some sense of social norms. Additionally, the lyrics depict a willingness to help others despite what people might think, as seen in the line "If my friend ain't got no money, and I say, 'Take all mine, honey', 'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!"
The final lines suggest a willingness to endure abuse at the hands of a partner rather than being left alone. This is a powerful statement on the importance of personal connections, even if they may not be the most favorable. The singer would rather be with someone who is abusive than be alone, and they are willing to deal with the consequences. The last line, "I swear I won't call no copper, If I'm beat up by my papa, 'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!" provides a glimpse of a harsh reality that some people may face. It highlights a person's right to deal with situations in their own way, whether or not it is perceived as right by society.
Overall, 'Deed I Do' conveys a message of individuality and the importance of personal freedom. It is a powerful statement on the ability to live life on one's terms without fear of criticism.
Line by Line Meaning
There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can say
There is nothing I can do or say that won't be criticized by others.
But I'm going to do just as I want to anyway
However, I will do what I want regardless of what others think.
And don't care if you all despise me!
I do not care if all of you hate me for my actions.
If I should take a notion
If I suddenly have the urge
To jump into the ocean,
to jump into the sea,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do!
It's not anyone else's business if I do it.
If I go to church on Sunday,
If I go to church on Sunday,
Then just shimmy down on Monday,
but dance suggestively the next day,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
It's not anyone else's business if I do it.
If my friend ain't got no money,
If my friend is broke
And I say, "Take all mine, honey",
and I offer them all of my money
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!
It's not anyone else's business if I do it.
If I give him my last nickel,
If I give them my last bit of money,
And it leaves me in a pickle,
even if it leaves me in a difficult situation,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
It's not anyone else's business if I do it.
There, I'd rather my man was hittin' me,
I'd rather my partner hit me
Than to jump right up and quittin' me,
than to leave me abruptly,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!
It's not anyone else's business if I do it.
I swear I won't call no copper
I swear I won't call the police
If I'm beat up by my papa,
if my father beats me up,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
It's not anyone else's business if I do it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EVERETT ROBBINS, PORTER GRAINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind