Ain't Misbehavin'
Louis Armstrong His Orchestra Lyrics


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

I know for certain
The one I love
I'm through with flirtin'
It's just you that I've been thinkin' of
Ain't misbehavin'
Savin' all my love for you

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

I don't stay out late
Nowhere to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
Savin' all my love for you

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

I don't stay out late
Nowhere to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
Savin' all my love for you




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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra's song "Ain't Misbehavin'" are a tale of a person content in their solitude, saving all their love for the one they cherish. The first set of lyrics, "No one to talk to, all by myself, no one to walk with, I'm happy on the shelf," conveys a sense of loneliness but also an acceptance of one's own company. The person seems content to be alone and chooses to save their love for someone special rather than waste it on frivolous flings. They declare their commitment to the one they love, "I know for certain, the one I love, I'm through with flirtin', it's just you that I've been thinkin' of."


The lyrics then continue to compare the situation to that of Jack Horner, a character from an English nursery rhyme who sat in a corner eating a pie, content with himself and his surroundings. "Like Jack Horner, in that old corner, don't go nowhere, what do I care? Your kisses are worth waitin' for, believe me." This attitude of waiting patiently for love and not needing to go out and search for it adds to the sense of contentment and self-assurance conveyed in the song. The final set of lyrics, "I don't stay out late, nowhere to go, I'm home about eight, just me and my radio," reinforces that the person is happy to stay at home with their thoughts and music rather than seek out company.


Overall, "Ain't Misbehavin'" is a song that celebrates self-love and the importance of waiting for the right person. The lyrics also seem to suggest that contentment can be found in solitude, and that one does not need to constantly chase after love and companionship. It is a catchy tune with a positive message that encourages listeners to value themselves and their emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

No one to talk to
I don't have anyone to talk to.


All by myself
I am alone.


No one to walk with
I don't have anyone to walk with.


I'm happy on the shelf
I am content being alone.


Ain't misbehavin'
I am not misbehaving.


Savin' all my love for you
I am saving all of my love for you.


I know for certain
I am certain.


The one I love
The person I love.


I'm through with flirtin'
I am done flirting with others.


It's just you that I've been thinkin' of
I have only been thinking of you.


Like Jack Horner
Similar to Jack Horner.


In that old corner
In a corner.


Don't go nowhere
I don't go anywhere.


What do I care?
I do not care.


Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I am willing to wait for your kisses.


Believe me
Trust me.


I don't stay out late
I don't stay out late.


Nowhere to go
There is nowhere for me to go.


I'm home about eight
I usually come home around eight.


Just me and my radio
I am alone with my radio.


Ain't misbehavin'
I am not misbehaving.


Savin' all my love for you
I am saving all of my love for you.


Like Jack Horner
Similar to Jack Horner.


In that old corner
In a corner.


Don't go nowhere
I don't go anywhere.


What do I care?
I do not care.


Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I am willing to wait for your kisses.


Believe me
Trust me.


I don't stay out late
I don't stay out late.


Nowhere to go
There is nowhere for me to go.


I'm home about eight
I usually come home around eight.


Just me and my radio
I am alone with my radio.


Ain't misbehavin'
I am not misbehaving.


Savin' all my love for you
I am saving all of my love for you.


Ain't misbehavin'
I am not misbehaving.


I'm savin' all my love for you
I am saving all of my love for you.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Fernandez212

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



@gameon17680

• Crystal clear transfer from an official, 1929 master pressing • Parlophone R 462 [W 402534 B]

——————————

In the summer of 1929, Louis Armstrong and his band mates from the Carroll Dickerson Orchestra found work playing for the floor show and dancing at Connie's Inn, in Harlem, NY, the main competitor of The Cotton Club. Connie Immerman, who ran the club with his brother George, had just opened a new musical revue called "Connie's Hot Chocolates" featuring songs composed by Thomas "Fats" Waller and written by Andy Razaf. The show was immensely popular and the Immermans needed a good orchestra to replace the house band as the show opened simultaneously in new venues. After a brief but successful run at the Windsor Theatre in the Bronx, "Hot Chocolates" was slated to open off Broadway at the Hudson Theater on 44th St. on June 20. Sometime before the Broadway opening, Armstrong got a big break when he was asked to double as part of the Leroy Smith orchestra, the original house band which would now be playing the show at the Hudson (he would still have to run uptown every night to rejoin the Dickerson group to play the show at Connie's Inn). It had been suggested by Andy Razaf that Armstrong sing and play a chorus of the show's theme song "Ain't misbehavin'" from the band pit as a between-act number. As an anonymous member of the orchestra, Armstrong's name did not appear on the opening-night program, but word quickly spread of his great talent. Writing about the show's Broadway debut, a critic from the New York Times stated:

“One song, a synthetic but entirely pleasant jazz ballad called 'Ain’t Misbehavin''' stands out, and its rendition between the acts by an unnamed member of the orchestra was a highlight of the premier."

Armstrong's name was soon added to the bill and his performance, now the highlight of the entire show, was moved from the orchestra pit to the stage. The song was a huge hit and a star was born. Within a matter of weeks he and the Dickerson band were in the Okeh studios making this recording of "Ain't misbehavin'" [it was also released the same year in the U.K. on the Parlophone record label]. ◆

————○▣○—————

• Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra •
  [New York, NY, July 19, 1929]

Louis Armstrong (Trumpet, Vocal)
Homer Hobson (Trumpet)
Fred Robinson (Trombone)
Jimmy Strong (Tenor Saxophone)
Bert Curry (Alto Saxophone)
Crawford Wethington (Alto Saxophone)
Carroll Dickerson (Conductor, Violin)
Gene Anderson (Piano)
Mancy Carr (Banjo)
Pete Briggs (Tuba)
Unknown (Triangle)
Zutty Singleton (Drums)

—————※—————

Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller, Thomas; Razaf, Andy; Brooks, H.) [master W 402534-B] OKeh 8714

——————————

Digital audio and photograph copyright © 2016 Steven Kozobarich. All Rights Reserved

—————※—————

[Connie's Hot Chocolates, 1920's, twenties, jazz, New Orleans, trumpet, Fox Trot, New Rhythm Style Series No. 5, original 78 rpm record, phonograph, Gramophone, shellac, Satchmo, Pops, Louie, big band, swing, new transfer, 2016]
121 Comments
Game on176
Add a public comment...
InTheory
InTheory
1 year ago
Who would comment, "Doesn't sound like Armstrong at all."? Louis has one of the most uniquely recognizable voices in all of music and all the world for that matter. The sound quality is so good you can almost imagine it's a hot and sticky night on Bourbon Street. The booze is flowing freely, the dancers are dancing, and the juke joint is jumping. I just watched 'High Society' on TCM and Louis brought me here.🌹🎺🌹

20


RantePlayz
RantePlayz
4 years ago
i remember this song my grandma used too play this on youtube shes 92 still alive

93


Michael Carlon
Michael Carlon
3 months ago
When Louis sings, "Oh, baby, my love for you!", soul singing was born.

4


Nate Carlson
Nate Carlson
3 years ago (edited)
This is probably my favourite Louis Armstrong tune. I didn't know the backstory though (in the description, which is very informative by the way, thanks for sharing it!). Hard to believe anybody could call the song "synthetic", Louis is a genius!

14

Steven Kozobarich

Steve Coward
Steve Coward
1 year ago (edited)
Fantastic recording and back story. Enjoyed it so much so I tracked down a copy of this on the Odeon label to play on my HMV portable, thanks!

2


MissNovemberTuesday
MissNovemberTuesday
4 years ago
2 people accidentally hit the thumbs down icon. How silly of them! No way could anyone in their right mind dislike this.

80


Tito Martino
Tito Martino
1 year ago
Outstanding transfer of a gigantic classic. Thanks!

1

Steven Kozobarich

Blzzrdwzzrd X1
Blzzrdwzzrd X1
2 months ago
I can walk into any room and if Louis is playing (it could be a song I never heard) I can identify his trumpet immediately. There is no Artist who carries the same TONE, and if they do, it is easy to identify the EXPERIENCE in that TONE, and know when it’s Louis and when it’s



All comments from YouTube:

@debivancleave5106

My Pop-pop used to play this on his banjo. He belted it out just like Louis Armstrong. Miss him and those singing and dancing days. RIP Harry Brower.

@Decentralized_Maze

RIP and thank you Harry Brower for living, loving and sharing your memories with others in your life! You'll always be remembered! 🙏

I wish you Debi ....MANY more wonderful memories to come. Music, dancing, happy memories that impact us strongly like that (or people, or both) is critical. Mine was my Polish grandparents moving furniture to make the entire dining room empty (except for the radio and record player unit), where they proceeded to dance to loud polka!!! 🎉😂 I was super young and the memories are vague, but I'll NEVER forget it and it impacted me for life. Your comment triggered great memories for me and it put me in tears honestly. This is soooo odd, but as a thanks for your comment.... you're welcome to my channel contents (dozens of playlists for this era). Its different so brace yourself, interesting, but hopefully helpful somehow. 😊 I don't know why, but maybe I'm offering for a reason. There's music and food stuff in there too!

@Una_fan_de_the_beatles

RIP Harry Brower

@intheory9772

Who would comment, "Doesn't sound like Armstrong at all."? Louis has one of the most uniquely recognizable voices in all of music and all the world for that matter. The sound quality is so good you can almost imagine it's a hot and sticky night on Bourbon Street. The booze is flowing freely, the dancers are dancing, and the juke joint is jumping. I just watched 'High Society' on TCM and Louis brought me here.🌹🎺🌹

@JJPlays

It's because he was younger this was when he was 28 he didn't have the gravelly voice we all know

@jancana

@@JJPlays but it's still unique tho

@JJPlays

@@jancana it is

@jazzvictrola7104

@@JJPlays The gravel are pebbles at this point! No mistaking him!

@JJPlays

@@jazzvictrola7104 Thats true! Even if it wasn't as gravelly, you just can't mistake the voice of Louis Armstrong, it's too unique!

3 More Replies...

@rxse0

I remember my great grandpa would hold me when I was 6 years old and we would listen to it r.i.p Alfonso Cardenas

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