The story behind
Ain't Misbehavin' is a song of jazz that was recorded in 1956. The voice of Billie Holiday carries it with a smoothness that seems to tell a story rather than sing it. The lyrics speak of a woman who moves between life and death, between love and disillusionment. It's not just a song, it's a reflection of how that woman lived, with her ups and downs and her secrets. The recording was made in a studio, but the emotion that comes from each note makes it feel as if it's happening in a real moment, as if you're listening to it in a place that doesn't exist, but that makes you feel something. The song became a classic, but what makes it special isn't its fame, but the way Billie Holiday puts it in her hands. ↓ Skip to chordsIntro 1
D Bm Em A D
Bm Em A D Bm Em A Bm F#
Cdim Fdim F# Fdim
Bm
Verse 1
Em A
D
G Em
Bm
Em
A F#m B Em B A
D Bm Em
Verse 2
Bm
D
G F#
C#dim D
Ebdim B Em
A D
Em G A D Daug
Bm
Verse 3
G Bdim E
B A
B Bm E A B
E Bbdim
A D Bm Em
Verse 4
A
D
G D F# D E Bm Em Bm G B Ebdim
B A B A D Em A D
G C D Bm B Em G D B
Em A D Bm Em Bm Em A Em D Daug
G C C#dim D Ebdim F#dim B Em A D G
A G F# Bm G Bdim E
B A Em A F# Bm A Em A Ebdim
Em A D Em A E Daug
G C#dim F# E B Em A F# D B
E A Bm
B A B Ebdim Em A D Ebdim B G
D Daug A Bm Em Bm E A B Em
Bm B A D Ebdim B Em A Em D G
F# Fdim Bm A Bm Em F# Bm F#
Bm G Bdim Em E B
A Em E Bm E A B A B E
Em A Bm G D G Em E A G
Em D Bm G Em G Bdim G
Bdim G D G D A D Em G
C G Bm
E B
E A G F#m B Em A Ebdim D Em Bm
Em A D G
C#dim Ddim E B Em A D Bm G
F#
Bm
Verse 5
Bdim
G Bdim G F#
Bm E
Bm B
E C#dim Bm F# E A Gaug
B Em A
Verse 6
Em Bm D Bm
Em A Em
D
G C#dim A
Bm B
E D G
Bm Abdim Bdim Fdim D
From the album
Lady Sings the Blues
Billie Holiday · 1956 · Track 7