Ain’t Nobody’s Business (Public Domain Song - by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins)

This song was recorded by many famous artists including Bessie Smith, Billie Holliday, Sarah Martin (accompanied by Fats Waller on piano), Alberta Hunter, Frank Stokes, and Jimmy Witherspoon. Marla Drake’s cheeky vocal performance draws upon the original devil-may-care lyrical content (i.e., “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness”) with the soulful back ups of Peggy Jenkins. Project Preservation band’s slow jazz-inspired blues, features Paul Hornsby’s honky-tonk stylings on the piano.

Featured Artist:

Marla Drake (Lead Vocals)

Project Preservation Band:

David Adkins (Guitar, Organ)

Paul Hornsby (Piano)

Peggy Jenkins (Backing Vocals)

Kevin Scott (Bass)

John Seals (Drums)

Tony Staffiero (Sax, Baritone Sax)

Song History

Ain’t Nobody’s Business (originally recorded as “T’aint Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do”) was  published by songwriters/pianists Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins in 1922 when the song was first released by Anna Meyers and the Original Memphis Five. Porter Grainger played in Mamie Smith and the Jazz Hounds and also worked as the pianist for the famous blues singer, Bessie Smith, from 1924-1928, as well as many other famous early blues artists such as: Fannie May Goosby, Viola McCoy, Clara Smith, and Victoria Spivey. Everett Robbins was trained at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and also worked for Mamie Smith and the Jazz Hounds, where he may have initially met Grainger. He also was a bandleader in his own right with Everett Robbins and the Jazz Screamers featuring trumpet player, Bob Shoffner

Lyrics:

If I should take a notion

To go jump into the ocean

'T'aint nobody's business if I do - ah no

If I go to church every Sunday

Then decide to shimmy down all day Monday,

T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!

If my man ain't got no money

And I say, "Take all of mine, honey"

T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!

See if I give him my last nickel

And it leaves me in a pickle

'T'aint nobody's business if I do, if I do!

Play that thing!

(Piano Solo)

There ain't nothin' I can do

Or nothin' I can say

That your folks don't criticise me for

If what I'm going to do

Is just what I

Just what I want to anyway

And I don't care if you all despise me, no-ooooo!

Ain’t nobody's

Ain’t nobody's business

Said if I do, yeah

Ain’t nobody’s business if I do