Ain't Nobody's Business but My Own
Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then you get another for Monday
Ain't nobody's business but my own
You say you're always home alone
How come I can't get you on the phone
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
All night long your playin' poker
Tell me what's the name of that joker
Ain't nobody's business but my own
I come over, say "Here I am!"
Then I hear the back door slam
Well, that ain't nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
You tell me you're in bed by seven
But your light's on past eleven
Well, that ain't nobody's business but my own
Now you ain't so smart and you ain't good lookin'
How come you got so much cookin'
Ain't nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
And you wear the prettiest ties and collars
Whereabouts do you get those dollars
Ain't nobody's business but my own
You always talk about settlin' down
When I bring a ring, you're not around
Well, I'll be there the next time that you call
Well let's not fuss and let's not fight
I'm sick and tired of sayin' "Goodnight"
Well, let's make up and hold each other tight
We both know we're birds of a feather
Let's go into business together
We can start a business of our own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but our own
Nobody's business
Nobody's business
Nobody's business but our own
In Kay Starr & Tennessee Ernie Ford's song "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own," the lyrics suggest a relationship that is not monogamous and is based on casual and non-committal behavior. The opening lyrics, "You got a gal you love on Sunday, Then you get another for Monday," describe a pattern of behavior where the singer is not loyal to one partner. They also indicate that the singer is aware that the behavior is not acceptable in society, but it's still "ain't nobody's business but my own." The following lines indicate that the singer's partner is also engaging in similar behavior and that the relationship is based on secrecy and lies.
Throughout the rest of the song, the lyrics touch on different aspects of the relationship, including the partner's gambling habits, unavailability, and unusual wealth. Still, the singer insists that it's "nobody's business," and they want to keep the relationship private. The final lines of the song suggest that despite the unconventional nature of the relationship, the two partners are compatible and should start a business together where they can be their boss, and nobody will interfere with their private affairs.
Line by Line Meaning
You got a gal you love on Sunday
You have a girlfriend on Sunday
Then you get another for Monday
And you have another girlfriend on Monday
Ain't nobody's business but my own
It's nobody's business but mine
You say you're always home alone
You claim to be alone at home
How come I can't get you on the phone
So why can't I reach you by phone?
Well, that ain't nobody's business but my own
But still, it's none of anyone else's business
All night long your playin' poker
You play poker all night long
Tell me what's the name of that joker
Who is that person you play with?
Now you ain't so smart and you ain't good lookin'
You're not that intelligent and good-looking, really
How come you got so much cookin'
But how do you have so much money?
And you wear the prettiest ties and collars
Your ties and collars are the most beautiful
Whereabouts do you get those dollars
Where do you actually get your money from?
You always talk about settlin' down
You always mention about settling down
When I bring a ring, you're not around
But when I propose, you're nowhere to be found
Well, I'll be there the next time that you call
But I'll still answer the next time you call
Well let's not fuss and let's not fight
So let's avoid arguing and fighting
I'm sick and tired of sayin' 'Goodnight'
I'm tired of just saying 'Goodnight'
Well, let's make up and hold each other tight
Let's make up and hug each other tightly
We both know we're birds of a feather
We both know we're alike
Let's go into business together
So let's start a business together
We can start a business of our own
We can begin our own business
Nobody's business but our own
It's nobody's business but ours
Nobody's business
It's no one else's concern
Nobody's business
It's no one else's concern
Nobody's business but my own
It's nobody's business but mine
Nobody's business
It's no one else's concern
Nobody's business
It's no one else's concern
Nobody's business but our own
It's nobody's business but ours
Lyrics © KISS MUSIC CO
Written by: I TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jim Dixon
1. [Starr] You got a gal; you love her Sunday,
Then you get another for Monday.
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
You say you're always home alone.
How come I can't get you on the phone?
[Starr] Well, that ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
CHORUS: [Both] Nobody's bus'ness, nobody's bus'ness,
Nobody's bus'ness but my own.
Nobody's bus'ness, nobody's bus'ness,
Nobody's bus'ness but my own.
2. [Starr] All night long you're playin' poker.
Tell me: what's the name o' that joker?
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
I come over and say: "Here I am,"
Then I hear the back door slam.
[Starr] That ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own. CHORUS
3. [Ford] You tell me you're in bed by seven,
But your lights are on past 'leven.
[Starr] That ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
Now you ain't so smart and you ain't good lookin'.
How come you got so much cookin'?
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own. CHORUS
4. [Starr] You wear the prettiest ties and collars.
Where 'bouts do you get those dollars?
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
You always talk about settlin' down.
When I bring a ring, you're not around.
[Starr] Well, I'll be there the next time that you call.
5. [Starr] Well let's not fuss and let's not fight.
[Ford] I'm sick an' tired o' sayin' goodnight.
[Starr] Well, let's make up and hold each other tight.
[Both] We both know we're birds of a feather.
Let's go into bus'ness together.
We can start a bus'ness of our own. CHORUS [using "our own"]
James Suntres
Great music is timeless and touches all cultures.
Jean Payne
This was one of my mother's favorite songs when I was about 8 years old. That was 70 years
Sweet memories.
gao.
Rebecca Terry
Dancing to this song in a show! Thanks for making it :-)
Matt LeGroulx
Yup, AND Jimmy Bryant! One of their earliest records together, possibly the first along with I'll Never Be Free.
Chris Zangara
Doug Hill I'm reading that book as we speak. Bryant just did the session with his new Fender. This record features the guitar much more than I'll Never be Free. Apparently the producer cut much of his performance in favor of the steel guitar. Great book for guitarists and non-guitarists alike. (He says with his trusty Fender and Les Paul by his side. It's ok, they get along very well. I give them equal amounts of love)
.
Jim Dixon
1. [Starr] You got a gal; you love her Sunday,
Then you get another for Monday.
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
You say you're always home alone.
How come I can't get you on the phone?
[Starr] Well, that ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
CHORUS: [Both] Nobody's bus'ness, nobody's bus'ness,
Nobody's bus'ness but my own.
Nobody's bus'ness, nobody's bus'ness,
Nobody's bus'ness but my own.
2. [Starr] All night long you're playin' poker.
Tell me: what's the name o' that joker?
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
I come over and say: "Here I am,"
Then I hear the back door slam.
[Starr] That ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own. CHORUS
3. [Ford] You tell me you're in bed by seven,
But your lights are on past 'leven.
[Starr] That ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
Now you ain't so smart and you ain't good lookin'.
How come you got so much cookin'?
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own. CHORUS
4. [Starr] You wear the prettiest ties and collars.
Where 'bouts do you get those dollars?
[Ford] Ain't nobody's bus'ness but my own.
You always talk about settlin' down.
When I bring a ring, you're not around.
[Starr] Well, I'll be there the next time that you call.
5. [Starr] Well let's not fuss and let's not fight.
[Ford] I'm sick an' tired o' sayin' goodnight.
[Starr] Well, let's make up and hold each other tight.
[Both] We both know we're birds of a feather.
Let's go into bus'ness together.
We can start a bus'ness of our own. CHORUS [using "our own"]
Thicc Mothman
My dad has this song on his iPod and it’s one of my favorites
TheCodedaddy
my daughter and i do this song its a fun and great song thank you for posting it
Eddie Cesc
Great
Denver Connected
here in 2020 still rockin