So Many Things
Men and Whales Lyrics

The lyrics to Men and Whales' "So Many Things" are actually an excerpt from the classic jazz standard "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills. The song's message is straightforward: when it comes to jazz music, the most important factor is the swing. The lyrics repeat the phrase "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" several times, emphasizing the significance of swing in jazz. The opening lines confirm this, making it clear that regardless of how musically complex or well-executed a performance may be, if it doesn't have that swing, it's just not going to cut it.

The lyrics go on to suggest that a lack of swing can be offset simply by singing with gusto: "All you got to do is sing." It doesn't matter if the music is sweet or hot, slow or fast; as long as the rhythm has that swing and the performers give everything they've got, it will sound and feel like "the cat's meow." In other words, the song is reminding musicians and audiences that swing is what gives jazz music its unique energy and spirit, and without it, the music loses its magic.

Overall, the lyrics to "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" are a celebration of jazz's essential characteristic: the swing. While other genres may value technique or emotion or virtuosity, jazz is all about that groove, that rhythm that compels people to tap their feet and move their bodies. By driving this point home, the song has become a classic and an inspiration to generations of jazz musicians.