He was born Joseph Goreed in Cordele, Georgia and moved to Chicago as a child. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He grew on the south side of Chicago, surrounded by jazz, blues, and gospel music. In the 1930s, as a teenager, he was a member of "The Jubilee Boys" and performed in Chicago churches.
He worked as a singer and bouncer in Chicago in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1943, he was hired by the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He toured with Hampton for several years but never achieved breakthrough success.
He rose to national prominence as the singer for Count Basie's Orchestra in 1954. He remained with Basie for several years. "Everyday I have the Blues" is his biggest hit.
After leaving the Basie band, Williams continued to have a successful career working with his own jazz combo. He and Basie remained on good terms and he would regularly appear with the band.
Bill Cosby cast Williams as his father-in-law "Grandpa Al" Hanks in a recurring role on the 1980s sit-com The Cosby Show.
Williams enjoyed a successful career and worked regularly until his death. He died at age 80, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joe Williams shares a birthday with Frank Sinatra who was also born Dec. 12, three years before Williams
Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You
Joe Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gee, baby, ain't I good to you?
There's nothing in this world too good
For a girl so good and true
Gee, baby, ain't I good to you?
Bought you a fur coat for Christmas
A diamond ring
What makes me treat you the way that I do?
Gee, baby, ain't I good to you?
Bought you a fur coat for Christmas
A diamond ring
A big Cadillac car and everything
What makes me treat you the way that I do?
Gee
Baby, ain't I good, to you?
The song "Baby Ain't Good" by Joe Williams is a classic jazz standard that dates back to the 1920s. It is a love song that speaks to the generosity and devotion of the singer towards his beloved. The opening lines, "Love makes me treat you the way that I do, gee baby ain't I good to you?" express the singer's absolute love and adoration for his partner. He believes that there is nothing in this world that is too good for someone as good and true as his lover. He continues to express his devotion to his lover through the lyrics, detailing how he bought her a fur coat for Christmas, a diamond ring, a big Cadillac car, and everything else that she desires.
Despite his over-the-top gifts, the singer is still wondering why he treats his lover so well. The song is a celebration of love, generosity, and devotion. It perfectly encapsulates the type of love that is all-encompassing and selfless. Williams' delivery of the song is tender and filled with emotion, further accentuating the message of the song. Overall, "Baby Ain't Good" is a timeless classic that continues to evoke powerful emotions in listeners decades after its release.
Line by Line Meaning
Love makes me treat you the way that I do
My love for you is the reason I treat you with so much care and attention
Gee, baby, ain't I good to you?
Don't you agree that I'm treating you with kindness and generosity?
There's nothing in this world too good
You deserve the absolute best in life
For a girl so good and true
Because you are such a wonderful and trustworthy person
Bought you a fur coat for Christmas
I gave you a luxurious gift for the holiday
A diamond ring
I wanted to show you how much you mean to me with a valuable symbol of our love
A big Cadillac car and everything
I want to provide you with all the material possessions you could ever want
What makes me treat you the way that I do?
I'm curious about what drives me to be so good to you
Gee
An expression denoting surprise or emphasis
Baby, ain't I good, to you?
Again, don't you think I'm really treating you well?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Don Redman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind