The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28882   Message #1145216
Posted By: GUEST,honeydhont
24-Mar-04 - 05:37 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Ain't Nobody's Business
Subject: Lyr Add: 'TAIN'T NOBODY'S BUS'NESS IF I DO
In case somebody's desperately seeking out for the original lyrics of this old blues song? I will add them right here. Maybe it's interesting to compare with Billie's version in the DT, even Bessie's version from the following year is already a bit different. The trick to find them, was to look under T of "Tain't nobobody's...." instead of under A of the later more often used title "Ain't nobody's....".

'TAIN'T NOBODY'S BUS'NESS IF I DO
As sung by Sara Martin, accompanied by Fats Waller, recorded 12/1/1922.
From Fats Waller 1922-1926; The Chronological Classics, 664.

There ain't nothing I can do,
Or nothing I can say,
That folks don't criticize me;
But I'm gonna do just as I want to anyway,
And don't care if they all despise me!

If I should take a notion
To jump into the ocean,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, do, do, love, do, do.
If I let my best companion,
Drive me right in the canyon,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, if I do.

If I dislike my lover,
And leave him for another,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, do, do, love, do, do.
If I 'tend church on Sunday,
Then cabaret on Monday,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, if I do.

Swear I won't call no copper,
If I'm beat up by my papa,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, do, do, love, do, do.
I'd rather he would hit me,
Than jump right up and quit me,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, if I do

If my daddy ain't got no money,
And I say, "Take all mine, honey,"
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, do, do, love, do, do.
If I give him my last nickel,
And it leaves me in a pickle,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do, if I do.