Ain't Nobody's Business
"Ain't Nobody's Business" (originally "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do") is a 1920s blues song that became one of the first blues standards. It was published in 1922 by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins. The song features a lyrical theme of freedom of choice and a vaudeville jazz–style musical arrangement. It was first recorded, as "'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do", in 1922 by Anna Meyers, backed by the Original Memphis Five.
| "'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Anna Meyers with the Original Memphis Five | |
| B-side | "That Da Da Strain" |
| Released | 1922 |
| Recorded | New York City, October 19, 1922 |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 3:08 |
| Label | Pathé Actuelle |
| Songwriter(s) | Porter Grainger, Everett Robbins |
Recordings by other classic female blues singers, including Sara Martin, Alberta Hunter, and Bessie Smith soon followed. In 1947, the song was revived by the jump blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon as "Ain't Nobody's Business". It was the best-selling race record of 1949 and inspired numerous adaptations of the song. In 2011, Witherspoon's rendition was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame as a "Classic of Blues Recording".