Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
Louis Armstrong and the Duke Ellington Orchestra Lyrics


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Do nothin' till you hear from me
Pay no attention to what's said
Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head

Do nothin' till you hear from me
At least consider our romance
If you should take the word of others you've heard
Don't you know, I haven't a chance

True I've been seen with somebody new
But does that mean that I'm been untrue?
When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you

Some kiss may cloud my memory
And others arms may hold a thrill




But please do nothin' till you hear from me
And baby you never will

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me tell a story of a man who is trying to convince his partner to trust him, no matter what rumors or gossip she may hear. He urges her to not pay attention to what others say and to wait until she hears from him. He acknowledges that he has been seen with someone new, but he argues that it does not mean he has been unfaithful. He emphasizes that when they are apart, he still harbors strong feelings for her. The man is asking for patience and understanding, hoping that she will give him a chance to prove himself.


The lyrics are delivered through Louis Armstrong's signature smooth and husky voice, accompanied by the Duke Ellington Orchestra's characteristic jazzy instrumentals. The mood of the song is somber and melancholy, reflecting the emotions of the singer. The melody is simple yet effective, allowing the lyrics to take center stage.


The song was originally composed by Duke Ellington and the lyrics were written by his collaborator Bob Russell. It was first recorded in 1940 and has since become a jazz standard, recorded by numerous artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, and Harry Connick Jr. The song's enduring popularity can be attributed to its relatable theme, skillful composition, and the masterful performances of its various interpreters.


Line by Line Meaning

Do nothin' till you hear from me
Don't make any decisions without consulting with me first


Pay no attention to what's said
Ignore what other people are saying


Why people tear the seam of anyone's dream is over my head
I don't understand why people would want to ruin someone's dreams


At least consider our romance
At least think about our relationship


If you should take the word of others you've heard
If you believe what others are telling you


Don't you know, I haven't a chance
You should know that what others are saying is not true


True I've been seen with somebody new
It's true that I've been seen with someone else


But does that mean that I'm been untrue?
But does that mean I've been unfaithful?


When we're apart the words in my heart reveal how I feel about you
When we're not together, I still have feelings for you


Some kiss may cloud my memory
A past kiss may be on my mind


And others arms may hold a thrill
Someone else may give me a temporary thrill


But please do nothin' till you hear from me
But don't act on any assumptions until you hear from me directly


And baby you never will
And if you wait for me, you'll never have to act on assumptions




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB RUSSELL, DUKE ELLINGTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Catssandra13

This is a great classic tune, one of my favorites. I love Louis and the Duke together - thanks for uploading :)

@najponkjazz9111

Jazz Greats!!!! Fantastic!!!!

@piotrszlazak2513

Za pomocą ... . Toop Jazz PR PiK ! Gdzie Panią Magdalenę!!! 😉

@ayanatillman2041

I love this

@IrRrIS1l3nt

@bphutchins Oh youre welcome, its always comforting to see people with taste for music.

@MrFalconford

i'll always remember you this way l a & d e

@MartaBtrp

yeeeee :)

@busessuck1

Awsome... though i can't find the version with hibbler on vocals

@hippieinmississippi

@bphutchins jazz isnt dead, its just in the witness protection program, patiently awaiting for some new artist to take the reins and bring it back to the center stage...

@Gamma3

Pay no attention to what said

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