“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills, now accepted as a jazz standard. The music was written and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago’s Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra for Brunswick Records (Br 6265) on February 2, 1932. Ivie Anderson sang the vocal and trombonist Joe Nanton and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges played the instrumental solos. The title was based on the oft stated credo of Ellington’s former trumpeter Bubber Miley, who was dying of tuberculosis. The song became famous, Ellington wrote, “as the expression of a sentiment which prevailed among jazz musicians at the time.” Probably the first song to use the phrase “swing” in the title, it introduced the term into everyday language and presaged the Swing Era by three years. The Ellington band played the song continuously over the years and recorded it numerous times, most often with trumpeter Ray Nance as vocalist.

LYRIC

What good is 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
It don’t mean a thing all you got to do is sing

It makes no difference
If it’s sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Everything you’ve got
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing

LYRIC

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (Boy!)

I love java, sweet and hot
Whoops Mr. Moto, I’m a coffee pot
Shoot the pot and I’ll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Oh slip me a slug from the wonderful mug
And I’ll cut a rug just snug in a jug
A sliced up onion and a raw one
Draw one -
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup

Boston bean (soy beans)
Green bean (cabbage and greens)
I’m not keen about a bean
Unless it is a chili chili bean (boy!)

I love java sweet and hot
Whoops Mr. Moto I’m a coffee pot (yeah)
Shoot me the pot and I’ll pour me a shot
A cup, a cup, a cup (yeah)

Slip me a slug of the wonderful mug
‘An I’ll cut a rug just as snug in a jug
Drop a nickel in the pot Joe
Takin’ it slow
Waiter, waiter, percolator

I love coffee, I love tea
I love the Java Jive and it loves me
Coffee and tea and the java and me
A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy!

“Fever” is a song credited to Eddie Cooley and “John Davenport” (a pseudonym for Otis Blackwell). The song was a rhythm and blues hit for Little Willie John that crossed over and became a pop standard after being transformed, with additional lyrics, by Peggy Lee. In the interim, Ray Peterson and Earl Grant had singles of the song which became regional hits.

It was published in 1956 and originally recorded as a hit by Little Willie John that also made the popular charts as an early Rock’n'Roll song. In 1958, Peggy Lee’s cover version was even more popular. The song became a signature song for Peggy Lee.

Elvis Presley recorded a near identical version to Lee’s two years later for his 1960 album, Elvis Is Back!.

LETRA

Never know how much i love you ,
never know how much i care,
when you put arms around me,
i get a fever thats so hard to bear,

You give me fever, when you kiss me,
fever when you hold me tight
Fever – in the the morning,
fever all through the night.

Sun lights up the daytime, moon lights up the night
I light up when you call my name,
and you know I’m gonna treat you right
You give me fever – when you kiss me,
fever when you hold me tight
Fever – in the the morning,
fever all through the night.

Everybody’s got the fever,
that is something you all know
Fever isn’t such a new thing,
fever started long ago.

Romeo loved Juliet,
Juliet she felt the same
When he put his arms around her,
he said “Julie baby you’re my flame”
Thou givest fever, when we kisseth,
fever with thy flaming youth
Fever – I’m afire, fever yeah I burn forsooth.

Captain Smith and Pocahontas had a very mad affair
When her Daddy tried to kill him,
she said “Daddy-O don’t you dare”
Give me fever – with his kisses,
fever when he holds me tight
Fever – I’m his Missus,
Oh daddy won’t you treat him right.

Now you’ve listened to my story,
here’s the point I have made:
Chicks were born to give you fever,
be it Fahrenheit or Centregrade
They give you fever – when you kiss them,
fever if you live and learn
Fever – till you sizzle,
what a lovely way to burn.
What a lovely way to burn.
What a lovely way to burn