Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)

Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb

About Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)

'Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) is a song written by jazz musicians Melvin "Sy" Oliver and James "Trummy" Young. It was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmie Lunceford, Harry James, and Ella Fitzgerald, and again the same year by Nat Gonella and His Georgians. The "shim sham" is often danced to the Lunceford recording of this song.


Year:
2006
45 

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When I was a kid about half past three
My ma said, "Daughter, come here to me"
Says, "Things may come and things may go
But this is one thing you ought to know"

Oh, 'tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results

'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
That's what gets results

You can try hard, don't mean a thing
Take it easy, breezy, then your jive will swing

Oh, it 'tain't what you do; it's the place that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the time that you do it
'Tain't what you do; it's the way that you do it
That's what gets results

You've learned your A B C's
You've learned your D F G's
But this is something you don't learn in school

So get your hep boots on
And then you'll carry on
But remember if you try too hard
It don't mean a thing, take it easy

'Tain't what bring do; it's the way that you bring it
'Tain't what swing do; it's the way that you swing it
'Tain't what sing do; it's the way that you sing it
That's what gets results

That's what gets results, rebop

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Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella", was an American jazz and song vocalist. With a vocal range spanning three octaves (D♭3 to D♭6), she was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability, particularly in her scat singing. more »

11 fans

Written by: Sy Oliver, James Young

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Original Release
"Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" was originally released in 1939. Ella Fitzgerald recorded her version later in 1967.
Classic Jazz
The song is a classic jazz standard, showcasing Ella Fitzgerald's vocal range and characteristic style.
Songwriters
Notably written by jazz musicians Sy Oliver and Trummy Young, the song offers catchy rhythms and deep lyrics that relay an important message about the significance of style and approach over the actual deed itself.
Influences
Ella Fitzgerald's rendition was influenced by earlier versions, most notably the original recording by Jimmie Lunceford.
Album Appearance
The song is part of "Ella at Juan-Les-Pins", a live album that was taken from Fitzgerald's performance at the French Riviera jazz festival in 1964.
Collaborations
Ella Fitzgerald often performed the song with other notable jazz musicians. She was accompanied by the pianist Tommy Flanagan, guitarist Jim Hall, bassists Wilfred Middlebrooks and Bill Yancy, and Gus Johnson on the drums in the recording.
Performance Worldwide
"Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" has been performed worldwide in various scales, from small jazz clubs to large-scale jazz festivals, thanks to Ella's renowned international popularity.
Swing Era Classic
The song remains a classic from the Swing Era and is a favorite among dancers and fans of swing music.
Cover Versions
Over the years, the song has been covered by numerous artists such as Annette Hanshaw, Bing Crosby, Bette Midler, and more recently by British band Fun Boy Three and Bananarama.
Use in Media
Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)" has also been used in various films and TV shows, such as "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" and "The Simpsons".

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    "Tain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/11936714/Ella+Fitzgerald/Tain%27t+What+You+Do+%28It%27s+the+Way+That+You+Do+It%29>.

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