It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
Valerie Day Lyrics
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If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
It don't mean a thing
All you got to do is sing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Oh, it don't mean a thing
If it ain't got that swing
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
"It Don't Mean a Thing" is a classic jazz standard originally composed by Duke Ellington in 1931. Valerie Day's rendition in this song is an ode to the swinging rhythm and joy of the original composition. The song highlights the importance of "swinging" in jazz music, which means that each instrument in the band is played with a particular rhythm that is consistently and continuously synchronized with the others. So, if the rhythm doesn't have that swing, then the music loses its charm and meaning.
In the first verse, Valerie Day sings "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing," where she emphasizes the importance of the rhythm in jazz music. In the second verse, she explains that all you need to do is sing along with the rhythm, and it doesn't matter if it's sweet or hot. In the third verse, she further emphasizes how the rhythm makes all the difference between an average and a great jazz song and encourages giving it "everything" you've got.
Overall, the song captures the essence of jazz music and how it's all about the rhythm and the swing.
Line by Line Meaning
It don't mean a thing
This thing, whatever it may be, holds no significance
If it ain't got that swing
Unless it has a certain type of musical rhythm that makes it enjoyable
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
This is the sound that represents the swing rhythm to which the song refers
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Continuation of the sound that represents the swing rhythm
It don't mean a thing
Reiteration of the unimportance of this thing without the swing rhythm
All you got to do is sing
You just need to add the swing rhythm to the song by singing it that way
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Use of that particular sound to again represent the swing rhythm
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Continuation of the sound that represents the swing rhythm
It makes no diff'rence
There is no distinction to be made between what is sweet and what is hot in terms of the rhythm that is needed
If it's sweet or hot
Whether a song is mellow or energetic does not matter
Just give that rhythm
Emphasizes the importance of the swing rhythm
Ev'rything you got
Put everything you have into the music to make it as rhythmically swinging as possible
Oh, it don't mean a thing
Reiteration of the theme that without the swing rhythm, this thing is meaningless
If it ain't got that swing
Reiteration of the importance of the swing rhythm to make this thing worthwhile
(doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah
Final use of the sound symbolizing the swing rhythm in the song
Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah)
Final continuation of the sound symbolizing the swing rhythm
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind