| INDEX OF SONGS & LYRICS “N” | |
| Nice Work If You Can Get It | 7 versions |
| Night and Day | 2 versions |
| Night and Day | |
| No Good Man | 3 versions |
| No More (You Ain’t Gonna Bother Me) | 3 versions |
| No Regrets | 2 versions |
| Now Or Never | 2 versions |
| Now They Call It Swing | 2 versions |
181. Nice Work If You Can Get It (1937)
lyrics by Ira Gershwin
music by George Gershwin
follows 7 versions of this song
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1937 | MT | 71 | Complete on Columbia v.4 | 1 | 3’07” |
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1954 | MT | 127 | Perfect Complete Collection v.7 | 9 | 2’45” |
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Awaiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1955 | MT | 264 | Complete on Verve v.5 | 16 | 3’47” |
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?(long bridge)
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
You can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?
4th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | LR | 154 | Perfect Complete Collection v.9 | 15 | 2’32” |
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
You can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?(applauses)
5th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1957 | LR | 180 | Complete on Verve v.10 | 4 | 2’39” |
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?(applauses)
6th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1957 | LR | 186 | Billie Holiday At Stratford ’57 | 1 | 2’30” |
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?(applauses)
7th version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1959 | LR | 224 | Perfect Complete Collection v.12 | 15 | 3’04” |
(The MC presents the band)
Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me how?Holding hands at midnight
‘Neath the starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryStrolling with the one boy
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you tryJust imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything moreLoving one who loves you
Then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it
Won’t you tell me
Please, please tell me
Won’t you tell me how?(applauses)
Notes |
It was one of nine songs George Gershwin wrote for the movie A Damsel in Distress, in which it was performed by Fred Astaire with backing vocals provided by The Stafford Sisters. The song was published in 1937.
Fred Astaire, the drummer…
182. Night And Day (1932)
lyrics and music by Cole Porter
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1939 | MT | 125 | Complete in Columbia v.6 | 5 | 2’58” |
Night and day you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It’s no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Night and dayDay and night
Why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic’s boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you
Night and dayNight and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let me spent my life making love to you
Night and day
Day and night(short bridge)
Night and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let spent my life making love to you
Day and night
Night and day
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1939 | AT | 125a | Complete in Columbia v.9 | 13 | 3’05” |
Night and day you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It’s no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Night and dayDay and night
Why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic’s boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you
Night and dayNight and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let me spent my life making love to you
Night and day
Night and day(short bridge)
Night and day under the hide of me
There’s an oh such a hungry yearning
Burning inside of me
And this torment won’t be trough
Till you let spent my life making love to you
Day and night
Night and day
Notes |
It was written for the 1932 musical play Gay Divorce. It is perhaps Porter’s most popular contribution to the Great American Songbook and has been recorded by dozens of artists.
Fred Astaire introduced “Night and Day” on stage, and his recording of the song was a #1 hit. He performed it again in the 1934 film version of the show, renamed The Gay Divorcee, and it became one of his signature pieces.
Porter was known to claim, that the Islamic call to worship he heard on a trip to Morocco inspired the song. Another popular legend has it he was inspired by the Moorish architecture of the Alcazar Hotel in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
The song was so associated with Porter, that when Hollywood first filmed his life story in 1946, the movie was entitled Night and Day (Wikipedia).
The song has an introduction not sung by Billie:
Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
When the evening shadows fall
Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall
Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating
You… you… you….
One of my favourites compositions by Porter; unfortunately I didn’t like Billie’s rendering… (A/N)
183. No Good Man
Irene Higginbotham & Dan Fisher & Sammy Gallop
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1946 | MT | 185 | Complete on Decca v.1 | 13 | 3’05” |
No good man
Lovin’ all the no good plan
Never treats me as he should
That ain’t good
He’s always bringing me down
He’s no saint
Heaven knows that’s what he ain’t
Spends his money foolishly
Not on me
I’m the one who gets the run-aroundI ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good manI ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’ve been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1946 | AT | 185a | Complete on Decca v.1 | 12 | 3’21” |
No good man
Lovin’ all the no good plan
Never treats me as he should
That ain’t good
He’s always bringing me down
He’s no saint
Heaven knows that’s what he ain’t
Spends his money foolishly
Not on me
I’m the one who gets the run-aroundI ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’ve been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man(short bridge)
I ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good man
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1956 | MT | 280 | Complete on Verve v.7 | 8 | 3’18” |
No good man
Lovin’ all the no good plan
Never treats me as he should
That ain’t good
He’s always bringing me down
He’s no saint
Heaven knows that’s what he ain’t
Spends his money foolishly
Not on me
I’m the one who gets the run-aroundI ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love with a no good manI ought to hate him and yet I love him so
For I require
Love that’s made of fire
And in his arms I find
I always get that kind
No good man
Ever since the world began
There’s been other fools like me
Born to be
In love
With a no good
Man
Notes |
NC
184. No More (You Ain’t Gonna Bother Me) (1944)
Music by Toots Camarata
Lyrics by Bob Russell
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1944 | MT | 176 | Complete on Decca v.1 | 2 | 2’45” |
You ain’t gonna bother me no more
Nohow
Love goes just so far
No more
Woke up this morning and found
I didn’t care for you no more
Nohow
Never felt so good before
You’re down to my size
It’s over and done
So honey step down from your throne
That look in your eyes
Don’t bother me none
Can take you or leave you alone
From my window
Skies ain’t gray no more
Not now
Here’s the day
That I’ve been waiting for
Got only one heart
One heart with no spares
Must save it for loving
Somebody who cares
So you ain’t gonna bother me
No more
No more
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1944 | AT | 176a | Complete on Decca v.1 | 3 | 3’03” |
You ain’t gonna bother me no more
Nohow
Love goes just so far
No more
Woke up this morning and found
I didn’t care for you no more
Nohow
Never felt so good before
You’re down to my size
It’s over and done
So honey step down from your throne
That look in your eyes
Don’t bother me none
Can take you or leave you alone
From my window
Skies ain’t gray no more
Not now
Here’s the day
That I’ve been waiting for
Got only one heart
One heart with no spares
Must save it for loving
Somebody who cares
So you ain’t gonna bother me
No more
No more
3rd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1949 | LR | 56 | Perfect Complete Collection v.3 | 9 | 3’01” |
You ain’t gonna bother me no more
Nohow
Love goes just so far
No more
Woke up this morning and found
I didn’t care for you no more
Nohow
Never felt so good before
You’re down to my size
It’s over and done
So honey step down from your throne
That look in your eyes
Don’t bother me none
Can take you or leave you alone
From my window
Skies ain’t gray no more
Not now
Here’s the day
That I’ve been waiting for
Got only one heart
One heart with no spares
Must save it for loving
Somebody who cares
So you ain’t gonna bother me
No more
No more
Notes |
It’s usually mentioned in connection with Billie Holiday, who recorded it on October 4, 1944. According to one source, Holiday would refer to “No More” as one of her favorite songs. (wikipedia)
185. No Regrets
Ingraham & Harry Tobias
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1936 | MT | 23 | Complete on Columbia v.1 | 23 | 2’35” |
No regrets
Although our love affair has gone astray
No regrets
I know I’ll always care though you’re away
So now our happy romance ended suddenly
Still in my heart you’ll be forever mine
No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets(bridge)
No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1936 | AT | 23a | Complete on Columbia v.7 | 16 | 2’37” |
No regrets
Although our love affair has gone astray
No regrets
I know I’ll always care though you’re away
So now our happy romance ended suddenly
Still in my heart you’ll be forever mine
No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets(bridge)
No regrets
Because somebody new looks good to you
No regrets
Sweetheart no matter what you say or do
I know our love will linger
When the other love forgets
So I say goodbye with no regrets
Notes |
NC
186. Now Or Never
Billie Holiday & Curtis R. Lewis
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1949 | MT | 208 | Complete on Decca v.2 | 18 | 3’15” |
Hey fat daddy make up your mind
‘Cause I’ve been waiting such a long, long time
Now baby or never ’cause I been so good to you
Now baby or never ’cause I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause you wasted so much time
Now baby or never ’cause you can’t make up your mind
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with meGonna call you once more on the telephone
I’ll give you till twelve then I’ll be goneHey fat daddy make up your mind
‘Cause I’ve been waiting such a long, long time
Now baby or never ’cause I been so good to you
Now baby or never ’cause I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause you wasted so much time
Now baby or never ’cause you can’t make up your mind
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with me(short bridge)
I waited last night for you to call
You give me no consideration at all
It’s now baby or never ’cause you wasted so much time
Now baby or never and you must make up your mind
Now babv or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t
You do baby or don’t
Either you will baby or won’t fall in love with me
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1950 | LR | 70 | Perfect Complete Collection v.4 | 3 | 2’32” |
Hey (?) baby make up your mind
‘Cause I’ve been waiting such a long, long time
Now baby or never I’ve been so sad and blue
Now baby or never I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause I wasted so much time
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with meI gonna call you once more on the telephone
I’ll give you till twelve then I’ll be goneNow baby or never I’ve been so sad and blue
Now baby or never I’ve been so lonesome too
Now baby or never if I mean anything to you
Now baby or never ’cause I wasted so much time
Now baby or never and it ain’t no fault of mine
It’s got to be yes or no
It’s either you stay or go
You can’t leave me on the shelf
You gotta commit yourself
It’s either you will baby or won’t fall
In love with me
Notes |
NC
187. Now They Call It Swing
W.Hirsch & Vaughn DeLeath & N. Cloutier & L. Handman
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1938 | MT | 79 | Complete on Columbia v.4 | 9 | 2’54” |
Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swingThen they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swingWhen singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dru-du-du, dra-da-daRhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing(bridge)
Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swingThen they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swingWhen singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dru-du-du, dra-da-daRhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swingBaby now they call it swing
2nd version
| rec date | type | # | discography | tk | rec time |
| 1938 | AT | 79a | Complete on Columbia v.8 | 10 | 3’00” |
Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swingThen they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swingWhen singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dri-di-di, dra-da-daRhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swing(bridge)
Once they called it ragtime
And it had its fling
It’s the same old syncopation
Now they call it swingThen they played it jazz time
To a buck-and-wing
Once again it sweeped the nation
Now they call it swingWhen singers used to sing
They would go hot-cha
But with this modern thing
Now they go dri-di-di, dra-da-daRhythm has its seasons
Summer, fall and spring
But for seven silly reasons
Someone pulled the string
And they started dancing
Now they call it swingBaby now they call it swing
Notes |
NC
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