Creative poems, thought and writings. Complaints. Insights. And more…
Ain’t Nobody’s Business – A Blues Standard
Originally recorded as "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do" was published in 1922 by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins.
Porter Grainger was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky October 22, 1891 − October 30, 1948. He died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Everett Robbins was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
While this song is a blues standard and has been recorded by a multitude of people, the version most noted is the cut by Jimmy Witherspoon in 1947 .
James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997). He died in in Los Angeles, California.
His version can be found here:
https://archive.org/details/78_aint-nobodys-business-part-1_jimmy-witherspoon-louis-speiginer-jay-mcshann-benn_gbia0377413a
Lyrics:
There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can say
That folks don't criticize me,
But I'm going to do just as I want to anyway,
And don't care if you all despise me!
If I should take a notion
To jump into the ocean,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do!
If I go to church on Sunday,
Then just shimmy down on Monday,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
If my friend ain't got no money,
And I say, "Take all mine, honey",
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!
If I give him my last nickel,
And it leaves me in a pickle,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
There, I'd rather my man was hittin' me,
Than to jump right up and quittin' me,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, do, do do!
I swear I won't call no copper
If I'm beat up by my papa,
'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!
Roy Richard January 2023