IT DON'T MEAN A THING (IF IT AIN'T GOT THAT SWING)
(Duke Ellington / Irving Mills)
Duke Ellington & His Famous Orch. (vocal: Ivie Anderson) - 1932
Roger Wolfe Kahn & His Orch. - 1932
The Mills Brothers - 1932
Lionel Hampton & His Orch. - 1939
Mary Ann McCall - 1954
Rosemary Clooney - 1956
June Christy - 1958
Chris Connor - 1960
Ernestine Anderson - 1960
Mavis Rivers - 1961
Nina Simone - 1962
Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington - 1962
The Rooftop Singers - 1964
Joe Williams - 1966
Teresa Brewer - 1973
Alice Babs - 1973
Carol Sloane - 1978
Anita O'Day - 1978
Salena Jones - 1982
Helen Shapiro & Humphrey Lyttleton - 1985
Carmen McRae & Betty Carter - 1987
Cleo Laine - 1991
Barbara Hendricks - 1995
Dr. John - 2000
The Puppini Sisters - 2008
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - 2014
Also recorded by:
Gloria Smyth; Pat Donohue; Eva Cassidy; George Melly; Donna Bryne;
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers; Julie Budd; Sheila Jordan;
Deborah Brown; Francine Griffin; Tracey Lyons; The Swingle Singers;
Jane Horrocks; Chet Atkins, Ella Fitzgerald ........ and many others.
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
(Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing
(Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)
It makes no diff'rence if it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm ev'rything you've got
What good is a melody, what good is music
If it ain't possessin' something sweet
It ain't the melody, it ain't the music
There's something else that makes the tune complete
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
(Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)
It don't mean a thing, all you got to do is sing
(Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)
It makes no diff'rence if it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm ev'rything you've got
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
(Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah)
(Contributed by boB Cartlidge / Bette Carl - May 2002)
(Updated by Mel Priddle - March 2017)
