Cyprus-born (of Armenian ancestry) Canadian-American songwriter, singer, guitarist, actor, and voice actor specializing in jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley classics. Recognized by his Panama hat, dark sunglasses, and black tie, he first appeared on stage in Toronto, Canada, in the early 1970s. As well as music, he also appeared on film and television in acting and voice-over roles.
Redbone, who had a distinctive deep voice, began his career in the 1970s. His work encompassed pre-war jazz, ragtime, & blues styles with modern arrangements that still retain a vintage feel.
While living in Canada in the early 1970s, Redbone began performing in public at Toronto area nightclubs and folk music festivals. At one point, it was rumored that he was actually comedian Andy Kaufman, who sometimes took on other identities, or Frank Zappa, who somewhat resembled Redbone. However, Redbone has performed since the deaths of Kaufman and Zappa, and the rumors have subsided. David Letterman once proposed that he was Don Novello, the comedian famous for playing Father Guido Sarducci.
In 1974, Rolling Stone magazine ran a feature article on Redbone, a full year before he had a recording contract. The article described his performances as "so authentic you can hear the surface noise [of an old 78 rpm]." His first album, On the Track, was released by Warner Bros. Records in 1975. He was introduced to a larger public as a semi-regular musical guest on NBC's Saturday Night Live throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s. In a late-'70s appearance on the The Merv Griffin Show, he was introduced as "Andy Kaufman ...maybe or maybe not," alluding to the eccentric comedian as being his possible true identity.
During the 1980s-90s Redbone was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. It was apparent from the on-air exchanges between host and guest that Carson was a fan of Redbone's work.
Redbone survived the crash of a small plane in Clarksburg WV on Feb. 12, 1979.
I Ain't Got Nobody
Leon Redbone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I begin to think it's true
It's awful hard to love someone
When they don't care about you
Once I had a lovin' gal
The sweetest little thing in town
But now she's gone and left me
Now I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me!
That's why I'm sad and lonely,
Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?
I'll sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
Oh, I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me!
I'll sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
Oh, I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me!
The lyrics of Leon Redbone's "I Ain't Got Nobody" speak of loneliness and heartbreak. The song talks about the common saying that seems to be true that it's hard to love someone who doesn't love you back. The singer tells the story of how he used to have a loving partner, but she left him, and now he is left with nobody who cares for him. He feels lonely and sad, and he wants someone to take a chance on him and be his sweet gal. He promises to sing love songs to that person if they agree to be with him.
The song captures the painful feeling of rejection and loneliness that everyone feels at some point in their lives. It tells of the human longing for companionship and love, and the pain that comes with the absence of those things. The simple, straightforward lyrics are made more poignant by the melancholic tune, which is slow and sad, perfectly capturing the mood of the song.
Overall, "I Ain't Got Nobody" is a poignant and heartfelt song about love and loss. It tells a relatable story of heartbreak and the universal need for companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's been a sayin' goin' round
There is a common saying that has been circulating
And I begin to think it's true
After considering it, I have come to believe it is accurate
It's awful hard to love someone
It is extremely difficult to have affection for somebody
When they don't care about you
Especially when they show no concern or interest in your well-being
Once I had a lovin' gal
At one point, I had a kind and affectionate girlfriend
The sweetest little thing in town
She was the most charming and adorable woman in the area
But now she's gone and left me
However, she has abandoned me and departed
She done turn me down
She has rejected me
Now I ain't got nobody, and nobody cares for me!
At present, I do not have anyone in my life, and nobody seems to show any interest in my existence
That's why I'm sad and lonely,
This is the reason why I feel unhappy and isolated
Won't somebody come and take a chance with me?
Wouldn't someone be willing to risk getting involved with me?
I'll sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
I am willing to perform romantic tunes for you on a regular basis, my dear
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
If you could only agree to be my kind and loving girlfriend
Oh, I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me!
Alas, I do not have any companionship or concern from others
I'll sing you love songs, honey, all the time,
Again, I offer to serenade you with romantic ballads, my dear
If you'll only say you'll be sweet gal of mine,
I hope that you can bring yourself to be my affectionate girlfriend
Oh, I ain't got nobody, nobody cares for me!
As I mentioned earlier, I continue to lack companionship and care from others.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roger Graham, Spencer Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bob Olson
The man is a national treasure! Wonderful!
drummerboy smith
I was lucky enough to see him perform live. About forty five years ago. Didn't know who he was, just went to a concert with some friends. He put on a great show.
Cathie Ludemann
Peaceful trip home, Mr. Redbone. We all cared about you! May 30, 2019
Karina
cette chanson est juste merveilleuse merci beaucoup!
patriotpagan
great stuff!! thanks for posting this!
san5sparkle
love it
Don Sperline
Thanks a Ton, Love his style!
Mike E
This song makes me want to give Leon a shot or two
Ryan Atwood
Because someone mentioned this being where David Lee Roth got his idea for "Just a Gigolo", I thought I'd share some knowledge. "I Ain't Got Nobody" dates back to long before DLR or Mr. Redbone. It was first copyrighted in 1915. "Just a Gigolo" was originally a different song, until Louis Prima and Sam Butera combined the two in an arrangement most famously recorded in 1957. DLR's version is pretty much a direct cover of the Prima version. That's not to say that Mr. Redbone might not have been an influence on his decision to record it.
Mico Veliki
Just a gigolo was not even american song