Giuseppe (Joe) Venuti (September 16, 1903 – August 14, 1978) was a U.S. jaz… Read Full Bio ↴Giuseppe (Joe) Venuti (September 16, 1903 – August 14, 1978) was a U.S. jazz musician and violinist. Venuti claimed to have been born aboard a ship as his parents emigrated from Italy, though many believe he was simply born in Philadelphia. Considered the father of jazz violin, he pioneered the use of string instruments in jazz along with the guitarist Eddie Lang, a childhood friend of his. Through the 1920s and early 1930s, Venuti produced many recordings. He worked with Benny Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers, Bing Crosby, the Boswell Sisters and most of the other important white jazz and semi-jazz figures of the late 1920s and early 1930s. However, following Lang's early death in 1933, he began to slip off the radar. After a period of relative obscurity in the 1940s and 1950s, he was 'rediscovered' in the late 1960s and established a musical relationship with tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, that was almost as fruitful as his previous collaboration with Lang. Venuti and Sims produced a number of very exciting recordings in 1974/75: an appropriate coda to the great violinist's career.

In the mid-1970s, Venuti performed and recorded, again in the limelight: good examples of his latter-day recordings are the Chiaroscuro CD's Joe Venuti and Zoot Sims (CR(D) 142) and Joe & Zoot & More (CR(D)126). He died in Seattle, Washington.

Venuti was also a legendary practical joker.

I Must Have That Man
Joe Venuti Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't want my mammy
I don't need a friend
My heart is broken, it won't ever mend
I ain't much carin'
Just where I will end
I must have that man

I'm like an oven

That's cryin' for heat
He treats me awful
Each time we meet
It's just unlawful
How that boy can cheat
But I must have that man

He's hot as Hades
A lady's not safe in his arms when she's kissed
But I'm afraid that when he's cooled off
And maybe I'm ruled off his list
I'll never be missed
I need that person much worse 'n just bad
I'm half alive 'n he's drivin' me mad
He's only human if he's to be had
I must have that man

I must have that man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Joe Venuti's song "I Must Have That Man" depict a woman who is deeply infatuated with a man who treats her poorly. The lyrics start with her declaring that she does not want her "mammy" or any friends, as her heart is broken and she is only interested in having this man in her life. She goes on to compare herself to an oven, crying out for heat and unable to resist the dangerous allure of this man. Despite his infidelity and the fact that she knows he is not good for her, she feels that she "must have that man."

The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is willing to put up with mistreatment and compromise her own happiness for the sake of being with the man she desires. She is aware of the consequences of being involved with him, as he is "hot as Hades" and dangerous to any woman who falls for him. Yet, she cannot resist him and declares that she needs him "much worse 'n just bad."

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the power of attraction and the lengths people will go to be with the object of their desire, even when it may not be in their best interest.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't want my mammy
I do not want my mother to tell me what to do

I don't need a friend
I do not need someone to give me advice or console me

My heart is broken, it won't ever mend
I am deeply hurt and my pain will never go away

I ain't much carin'
I do not care about anything else at the moment

Just where I will end
I do not know where my actions will lead me

I must have that man
I am obsessed with a man and need him to feel complete

I'm like an oven
I am burning with desire

That's cryin' for heat
I need someone to satisfy my passion

He treats me awful
He is not kind to me

Each time we meet
Every time we are together

It's just unlawful
It is not fair

How that boy can cheat
He is unfaithful to me

But I must have that man
Despite his faults, I need him in my life

He's hot as Hades
He is very attractive

A lady's not safe in his arms when she's kissed
He is dangerous and unpredictable

But I'm afraid that when he's cooled off
I worry he will lose interest in me

And maybe I'm ruled off his list
He may decide he no longer wants me

I'll never be missed
He will not care if I am gone

I need that person much worse 'n just bad
I need him more than anything

I'm half alive 'n he's drivin' me mad
He consumes my thoughts and emotions

He's only human if he's to be had
He is not perfect, but he is all I want

I must have that man
Once again acknowledging my obsession with him

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MC HUGH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

@louispanico2845

3y↑2

Joe Venuti doing vocals is a new one for me. After listening, I think I know why he didn't do more! This is a great side though - thank you for sharing, Atticus!!! :^D 🎺 LP

@johncoffin9354

3y↑3

The 'Mosaic' Venuti/Lang collection includes an out-take of Venuti singing 'Vesti la Giubba.' Well, croaking really.

@aldorsmidenvall

2y↑1

It is Schauncey Morehouse
singing! I have heard this in a radioprogram from the Swedish "bas sax man" Franz Sjoeström.
Great swingin Lindyhop song! Yeah!

@leonblum7898

3y↑2

MUCHAS GRACIAS''ATTICUS JAZZ'',POR SUBIR ÉSTA MÚSICA MARAVILLOSA.-SALUDOS DESDE''BUENOS AIRES-ARGENTINA''.-

@brucemercer8458

My New favorite record! Love the photographs too, especially the one with Valentino and that gorgeous woman, who is she? Women wept according to my aunt when Valentino died.

just now