AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT MY OWN 
(Irving Taylor)


Kay Starr & Tennessee Ernie Ford - 1950
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan - 1950
Jean Shepard & Ray Pillow - 1966
Taj Mahal - 1971
Johnny Bush - 2001



As recorded by KAY STARR & TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD:

KAY:
You got a gal you love on Sunday
Then you get another for Monday
ERNIE:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

ERNIE:
You say you're always home alone
How come I cain't get you on the phone
KAY:
Well, that ain't nobody's business but my own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own 

KAY:
All night long you're playin' poker
Tell me, what's the name of that joker
ERNIE:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

ERNIE:
I come over and say, "Here I am"
Then I hear the backdoor slam
KAY:
Well, that ain't nobody's business but my own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own

(Instrumental Break)

ERNIE:
You tell me you're in bed by seven
But your light's are on past eleven
KAY:
Well, that ain't nobody's business but my own

KAY:
Now, you ain't so smart and you ain't good-lookin'
How come you got so much cookin'
ERNIE:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own

KAY:
You wear the prettiest ties and collars
Whereabouts do you get those dollars
ERNIE:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

ERNIE:
You always talk about settlin' down
When I bring a ring, you're not around
KAY:
Well, I'll be there the next time that you call

KAY:
Well, let's not fuss and let's not fight
ERNIE:
I'm sick and tired of sayin' goodnight
KAY:
Well, let's make up and hold each other tight

BOTH:
We both know we're birds of a feather
Let's go into business together
We can start a business of our own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but our own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but our own


++++++++++


As recorded by JEAN SHEPARD & RAY PILLOW:

JEAN:
You've got a gal you love on Sunday
Then you've got another for Monday
RAY:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

RAY:
Sittin' by the phone waitin' for you to call
While you're out a havin' yourself a ball
JEAN:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own

JEAN:
All night long you're playin' poker
Now tell me what's the name of that joker
RAY:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

RAY:
I come over and say, "Here I am"
And then I hear that backdoor slam
JEAN:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but my own

(Instrumental Break)

JEAN:
You wear the prettiest ties and collars
Tell me where do you get those dollars
RAY:
Ain't nobody's business but my own

RAY:
You're always talkin' 'bout settlin' down
When I bring the ring, you ain't around
JEAN:
I'll be there the next time that you call

JEAN:
Now let's not fuss and let's not fight
RAY:
I'm sick and tired of sayin' goodnight
BOTH:
Let's make up and hold each other tight
We both know we're birds of a feather
RAY:
Let's go into business together
BOTH:
We can start a business of our own

BOTH:
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but our own
Nobody's business, nobody's business
Nobody's business but our own
Ain't nobody's business but our own


++++++++++


Alternate version as recorded by TAJ MAHAL:

Champagne don't make me crazy
Cocaine don't make me lazy
Ain't nobody's business but my own

You know candy is dandy and liquor is quicker
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica
Baby, ain't nobody's business but your own
 
You can ride a great big pink Cadillac to church on Sunday
You can lay around your rack with your lady on Monday
Ain't nobody's dirty business but your own

Frankly I don't care what in the world you do
Long as you do what you really wanta do, baby
Ain't nobody's business but your own
 
'Cos I know some of you cuties, you real good-lookin' cuties
You gonna step in my town, just to hang around
Standin' on the corner so the fellas will say
"Hey, baby, ahh yeahhhhhhh"

Champagne don't make me crazy
Cocaine don't make me lazy
Ain't nobody's business but my own

You know candy is dandy and liquor is quicker
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica
Baby, ain't nobody's business but my own

You can ride around San Francisco in your birthday suit
I can catch ya comin out of the Bank of America with a whole lotta loot
Ain't nobody's business but your own

They say cocaine's for horses, now it ain't for men
The doctor said it'll kill me, but he didn't say when
Ain't nobody's business but my own

(Scat Singing)

You know, Champagne don't drive me crazy
Cocaine don't make me lazy
Ain't nobody's business but my own

You know candy is dandy and liquor is quicker
You can drink all the liquor down in Costa Rica
Ain't nobody's business but my own

Honey, you know that Champagne don't drive me crazy
Cocaine don't make me lazy
Ain't nobody's business but my own







(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2011)