I AIN'T GOT NOTHING BUT THE BLUES
Duke Ellington (m) Don George (l)  1937

as rec by Ella Fitzgerald w Duke Ellington & his Orch  
June 25th 1957 New York

also rec by-
Al Hibbler w Duke Ellington & his Orch '44
Lena Horne '44
Ella Fitzgerald w Joe Pass '76
Lorenz Alexandria '60
Dinah Shore w The Red Norvo Quintet '60
Mose Allison '63
Ruth Olay '67
Kenny Burrell '77
Sarah Vaughan '79
Elkie Brooks '94
Katherine McPhee
The Pointer Sisters
Joe Williams
Jimmy Witherspoon w Duke Ellington & his Orch


Ain't got the change of a nickel,
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes,
Ain't got no fancy to tickle,
I ain't got nothin' but the blues!

Ain't got no coffee that's perc'in,
Ain't got no winnings to lose,
Ain't got a dream that is workin',
I ain't got nothin' but the blues!

When trumpets flare up,
I keep my hair up,
I just can't make it come down!
Believe me, pappy,
I can't get happy
Since my ever-lovin' baby left town!

Ain't got no rest in my slumbers,
Ain't got no feelin's to bruise,
Ain't got no telephone numbers,
I ain't got nothin' but the blues!

Ain't got the change of a nickel,
Ain't got no bounce in my shoes,
Ain't got no fancy to tickle,
I ain't got nothin' but the blues!

Ain't got no coffee that's perc'in,
Ain't got no winnings to lose,
Ain't got a dream that is workin',
I ain't got nothin' but the blues,
Ain't got nothin' but the blues!

When trumpets flare up,
I keep my hair up,
I just can't make it come down!
Believe me, pappy,
I can't get happy
Since my ever-lovin' baby left town!

Ain't got no rest in my slumbers,
Ain't got no feelin's to bruise,
Ain't got no telephone numbers,
I ain't got nothin', nothin', nothin' but the blues!

Ain't got no east, no west,
No good, no best,
Ain't got no man to choose,
I ain't got nothin', ain't got nothin' but the blues!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - June 2011)