Ain't Misbehavin'
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Lyrics

The opening verse of "Ain't Misbehavin'" sets a melancholy and lonely tone. The singer is "All by myself" with "No one to talk with" or "walk with." But despite this isolation, they make the unusual claim that they are "happy on the shelf." This strange apparent contradiction is explained in the chorus, with the assertion that they are "sav[ing] my love for you," thereby suggesting that they are in a long-distance relationship or have lost someone that they still love. The second verse reinforces this interpretation as it reveals that the singer is "through with flirtin'" and fixated only on "the one I love." The specific reference to "Jack Horner in the corner" is a nod to the children's nursery rhyme character who is content with eating his pie in the corner by himself.

In the bridge, the singer affirms that "Your kisses are worth waitin' for." They are willing to endure the loneliness and isolation of their present circumstance for the eventual reward of reuniting with their loved one. The final verse repeats the singer's routine, which consists of staying in and listening to the radio, further emphasizing their yearning for their absent partner. The song ends as it began, with the singer content, but alone, suggesting that they will continue to wait for their loved one's eventual return.