DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #91: 'Tain't What You Do

When you are an experienced dancer, then you know this song for sure.

If you are a beginner, then here is a song you have to know!

It was one of Frankie Manning‘s favourite songs and it is very often used for the Shim Sham.

It Ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It) was composed by Melvin “Sy” Oliver and co-written with Trummy Young. It was first recorded in 1939 by Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra.

Sy Oliver (17.12.1910 – 28.05.1988) was a trumpeter, vocalist, composer and arranger. In 1933 he joined Jimmie Lunceford's orchestra to help to define their sound and he arranged many hits in the following years. In the fourties he changed to Tommy Dorsey‘s orchestra to modernize their sound from Dixieland to Swing.

In 1946 he attempted to lead his own orchestra before he became a freelance arranger and producer. From 1975-1980 he was regularly leading a band again.

And that you can sing along the next time, here are the

Lyrics:

When I was a kid about half past three,
My daddy said, “Son, come here to me”;
Says, “Things may come and things may go,
But this is one thing you ought to know!”

‘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!

Title: ‘Tain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)
Artist: Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra
Recorded: 1939
Album: Harlem Shout
Tempo: 160 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Shim Sham

Click the link to prelisten and/or buy the song (mp3/mp4a) at
iTunes CH/EU — iTunes US — Amazon.de — Amazon.com

Do you like to dance the Shim Sham to this song? Let us know in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“. You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist.

Song of the Week #90: “Stompin’ At The Riverside” by Spade Cooley
Song of the Week #89: “Rexatious” by Rex Stewart
Song of the Week #88: “Honeysuckle Rose” by Fats Waller
Song of the Week #87: “Troubled” by Frankie Trumbauer
Song of the Week #86: “Postcard To Fere” by Erich Nussbaum

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #91: ‘Tain’t What You Do

Lyrics:

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