Originally a founding member in the 1980's of New Orleans' popular Rebirth … Read Full Bio ↴Originally a founding member in the 1980's of New Orleans' popular Rebirth Brass Band, with whom he recorded seven lively albums and toured the world. Ruffins branched out on his own in the early 1990's with his own band, a more traditional New Orleans jazz combo, but has also performed with The Kermit Ruffins Big Band. His style is most reminiscent of great Nawlin's trumpeter Louis Armstrong, He regularly performs with his backing band called the Barbecue Swingers in local New Orleans clubs. Ingeniously, he also shows up with a truck that sells Bar BQ off to the side, easily doubling a night's musician pay, satisfying fans stomach as well as spirit. He's also guested on many recordings including records from artists like Los Hombres Calientes and Harry Connick JR, and appears as himself regularly on the HBO television series Treme.

Ain't Misbehavin'
Kermit Ruffins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

No one to talk with
All by myself
No one to walk with
But I'm happy on the shelf
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

I know for certain

The one I love
I'm through with flirtin'
It's just you I'm thinkin' of
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

Like Jack Horner
In the corner
Don't go nowhere
What do I care?
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
Believe me

I don't stay out late
Don't care to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

Like Jack Horner
In the corner
Don't go nowhere
What do I care?
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
Believe me

I don't stay out late
Don't care to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio

Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

Overall Meaning

The first verse of "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Kermit Ruffins expresses the loneliness that the singer feels without a companion. The repetition of the phrase "no one to" emphasizes the lack of human connection in the singer's life. However, despite this isolation, the singer claims to be "happy on the shelf." This suggests that the singer has found contentment in being alone, possibly because they have saved their love for someone special.

The second verse confirms that the singer has saved their love for a specific person, and they are "through with flirtin'." The song's title and refrain, "Ain't Misbehavin'," reinforces this idea that the singer is behaving and remaining faithful to their love interest. The line "It's just you I'm thinkin' of" underlines the single-minded devotion the singer has towards this person.

The song's bridge contains a simile comparing the singer to "Jack Horner in the corner." This reference is to the nursery rhyme character who sits in the corner, eating his Christmas pie. By equating the singer to Jack Horner, they are admitting that they are sitting around, waiting for their love interest. However, the singer asserts that their love interest's kisses are "worth waiting for." The end of the bridge contains a plea to believe the singer, which conveys the depth of their feelings.

The final verse reinforces the singer's devotion with the repetition of the refrain. The final lines, "I'm savin' my love for you," are echoed from the first verse, creating a sense of circularity that reinforces the song's theme of steadfast devotion.

Line by Line Meaning

No one to talk with
I don't have anyone to talk to right now.

All by myself
I'm alone and there's nobody around me.

No one to walk with
There is no one to go for a walk with me.

But I'm happy on the shelf
Despite being alone, I am content being on my own, without company.

Ain't misbehavin'
I promise not to behave badly or do anything wrong.

I'm savin' my love for you
I'm keeping my feelings of love only for you and no one else.

I know for certain
Without a doubt, I'm sure.

The one I love
The person I have feelings of love for.

I'm through with flirtin'
I'm done with playful behavior and only have eyes for one person.

It's just you I'm thinkin' of
My mind only thinks about you, and nobody else.

Like Jack Horner
Similar to Jack Horner, a character in a nursery rhyme who sat in a corner waiting for something.

In the corner
Sitting in a quiet place, waiting for something to happen.

Don't go nowhere
I'm not going anywhere, waiting patiently.

What do I care?
It doesn't matter to me what others think of my waiting or my behavior.

Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I believe your kisses are worthwhile, and I'm willing to wait for them.

Believe me
Trust me, what I am saying is true.

I don't stay out late
I prefer to stay at home and not go out late in the evening.

Don't care to go
I have no interest in going out in the evening.

I'm home about eight
I get home early, around eight in the evening.

Just me and my radio
I enjoy spending time by myself, listening to music on the radio.

Ain't misbehavin'
I promise not to behave badly or do anything wrong.

I'm savin' my love for you
I'm keeping my feelings of love only for you and no one else.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS