Lyambiko is a pseudonym of German singer Sandy Müller and the name of a ban… Read Full Bio ↴Lyambiko is a pseudonym of German singer Sandy Müller and the name of a band she fronts, with USA's Marque Lowenthal (piano), Canadian Robin Draganic (bass) and German Torsten Zwingenberger (percussion).

A trio of Lowenthal, Draganic and Zwingenberger had been playing together for several years when they found Müller.

Müller, born in Thüringen to an amateur musician from Tanzania and a German mother, had begun to sing jazz only a year before the trio was formed. Now she takes the stage with her new accompanists and fascinates audiences with her own unique sound.

By the end of 2004 Müller had given approximately 300 concerts with her trio, the majority of those in Germany and three in the United States, where she enjoyed great successes in New York and Boston and was likewise acclaimed by the American press. She also appeared in France, Austria, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic and is set to perform in other countries in 2005.

I Got Rhythm
Lyambiko Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't got the change of a nickel
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
Ain't got no fancy to tickle

I ain't got nothing but the blues
Ain't got no coffee that's perking
Ain't got no winnings to lose

Ain't got a dream that is working
I ain't got nothing but the blues
When trumpets flare up

I keep my hair up
I just can't make it come down
Believe me, peppie
I can't get happy

Since my ever-loving baby left town
Ain't got no rest in my slumbers
Ain't got no feelings to bruise

Ain't got no telephone numbers
I ain't got nothing but the blues

Overall Meaning

Lyambiko's version of "I Got Rhythm" is a slow and soulful rendition of the classic jazz standard. The lyrics are about a person who is down on their luck and feeling lonely without their lover. They list the things they don't have, such as money, energy, and a working dream. They also express sadness about not being able to get happy since their lover left town.

The line "When trumpets flare up, I keep my hair up" suggests that even when there may be moments of excitement or joy around them, the singer can't shake off their sadness. The imagery of a trumpet flare represents a festive scene, but the singer is unable to fully enjoy or participate in it. The final line, "I ain't got nothing but the blues," sums up the overall tone of the song - a melancholic expression of loneliness and heartache.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't got the change of a nickel
I don't have any money at all.

Ain't got no bounce in my shoes
I don't have any energy or enthusiasm.

Ain't got no fancy to tickle
I don't have any desire for luxury or extravagance.

I ain't got nothing but the blues
All I have is sadness and despair.

Ain't got no coffee that's perking
I don't have anything good happening in my life.

Ain't got no winnings to lose
I don't have anything to be optimistic about.

Ain't got a dream that is working
I don't have any goals or aspirations that are coming to fruition.

When trumpets flare up
When things start to look up or get exciting.

I keep my hair up
I try to maintain a positive attitude.

I just can't make it come down
But I can't shake off my sadness.

Believe me, peppie
Trust me, my friend.