Ruth was born in David City, Nebraska. Her mother died when she was 5, and her father left her with her grandparents, George and Hannah Etting, who owned a roller mill. Her father remarried and moved away, seldom visiting his daughter. When she was 17 she moved to Chicago to attend art school, and got a job designing costumes at a night club. One night the tenor got sick and since she was the only one who could sing low enough, she took his place, and landed a job in the chorus. By 1918 she was one of the club's featured vocalists. It was there she met Moe "The Gimp" Snyder, a wanna-be gangster who took over management of Ruth's career and married her in 1922.
After her New York sucess, she moved to Los Angeles and had roles in a number of films including Roman Scandals with Eddie Cantor. There are conflicting stories about the scandal that virtually ended her career. The marriage between Ms. Etting and The Gimp was virtually loveless from the beginning, and he was a demanding and controlling manager who would not let other men near his wife. They were divorced in 1937. While in Los Angeles she began spending time with Myrl Alderman, a pianist who had played with her earlier in her career. In 1938, The Gimp forced his way into Ruth's house, and shot Alderman, wounding him. The subsequent trial put a halt to her career, although she did make some appearances in 1947. Ruth and Myrl married and retired to Colorado Springs, where she died in 1978. The academy award nominated movie version of her life story, Love me or Leave Me, with Jimmy Cagney and Doris Day, was apparently highly fictionalized.
Ain't Misbehavin
Ruth Etting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Ruth Etting's song "Ain't Misbehavin'" is a love song that speaks about the singer's steadfast devotion to her love, and her willingness to remain patient and faithful until they can be together again. At the beginning of the song, the singer laments about being all alone and having nobody to talk to or walk with, but despite this, she is content spending time alone because she knows that she is saving her love for the one she truly cares for. She asserts that the person she loves is the only one she thinks about and there is no one else she is interested in.
The song compares the singer to Jack Horner in the corner who does not go anywhere, but patiently waits for a reward, similar to the singer who waits for her love's kisses, thus highlighting her unwavering commitment to her lover. She also rejects the idea of staying out late, or going anywhere else, suggesting her complete loyalty to her lover and their relationship.
Through its lyrics, the song expresses the joy and wonder of staying faithful, and perfectly captures the excitement and thrill of being in love, making it a classic love song that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
No one to talk with
I have nobody to converse with
All by myself
I'm alone
No one to walk with
I don't have anyone to accompany me on walks
But I'm happy on the shelf
Despite my solitude, I am content with my current situation
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm not causing any trouble
I'm savin' my love for you
I am reserving my affection for a specific individual
I know for certain
I am positive
The one I love
The person I have romantic feelings for
I'm through with flirtin'
I am finished with flirting with others
It's just you I'm thinkin' of
I'm only thinking about you
Like Jack Horner
Similar to the character of Jack Horner
In the corner
Sitting in a secluded spot
Don't go nowhere
I don't go anywhere
What do I care?
I'm not concerned
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
I value your kisses and am willing to wait for them
Believe me
Trust me
I don't stay out late
I don't go out at night for very long
Don't care to go
I don't really want to leave my home
I'm home about eight
I return home around eight o'clock
Just me and my radio
I am alone with my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm not causing any trouble
I'm savin' my love for you
I am reserving my affection for a specific individual
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dale Nichols
Beautiful song; beautiful voice........
maureen1938
Such a sweet voice and lovely to listen to. Thanks for the share.
Aurile Tinmirielle
Found a very old scratched gramophone record of this at a thrift shop. I wanted to hear it I'm so happy that it was archived here so I can hear it while having it on my wall. It's very sweet
limesquared
Love this song!
Garry Horsepower
Love finding these gems
jb hamblen
So nice...THANKS.. What a voice to me....
Thomas .Hennessey
Recorded when this was a brand new song. Louis Armstrong sang it on Broadway in the musical "Hot Chocolates" June 20, 1929. Armstrong's own recording of the song is done June 19,1929.
Thomas .Hennessey
Part of the raft of 1929 versions of this tune coming from Louis Armstrong's performance of it in Connie's Hot Chocolates on Broadway. His version is quite different.
Dale Nichols
One year later. I had to listen again!
dick12235
Thanks for this treat.