Ain't Misbehavin' – English Lyrics

• By: Rod Stewart, Jools Holland
• Album: Swing Fever

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the swinging rhythms and charming lyrics of 'Ain't Misbehavin'' by Rod Stewart and Jools Holland. This classic jazz standard offers a delightful way to explore idiomatic English phrases related to love and fidelity, all while enjoying the infectious energy of a big band sound. Its playful narrative and clear vocal delivery make it an engaging piece for language learners to grasp expressions of devotion and loyalty.

[English]

No one to talk with

all by myself

No one to walk with but I'm happy on a shelf

Ain't misbehavin'

savin' all my love for you

baby

I know for certain

the one I love

I'm through with flirtin', it's you that I'm thinkin' of

Ain't misbehavin'

savin' all my love for you

Like Jack Horner in the corner

Don't go nowhere

what do I care

Your kisses are worth waitin' for

you gotta believe me baby, listen

I don't stay out late, nowhere to go

I'm home about eight, just me and my radio

Ain't misbehavin'

savin' all my love for you

I don't stay out late

nowhere to go

I'm home about eight, just me and my radio

Ain't misbehavin'

savin' all my love for you

Yes I am darlin'

Ain't misbehavin'

savin' all my love for you

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for someone
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to say words in order to communicate noun - the action of talking
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn noun - an act of walking
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child
know /nəʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
flirtin' /flɜːrt/ B1	verb - behave so as to attract sexual interest, but without serious intent
thinkin' /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/ A1	verb - have a particular opinion or belief about something.
kisses /ˈkɪsɪz/ A1	noun - an act of touching with the lips
waitin' /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A1	verb - stay where one is or delay action until a specified time or until something else happens.
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A1	verb - accept that something is true
late /leɪt/ A1	adjective - happening or arriving after the expected or usual time
radio /ˈreɪdiəʊ/ A1	noun - a device for receiving broadcasts
home /həʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives.
darlin' /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/ A1	noun - a beloved person

Key Grammar Structures

• No one to talk with all by myself

  ➔ Prepositional phrase, Reflexive pronoun

  ➔ The prepositional phrase "with" introduces the phrase 'all by **myself**', where 'myself' is a reflexive pronoun emphasizing that the speaker is alone.

• No one to walk with but I'm happy on a shelf

  ➔ Infinitive phrase, but + contrast clause

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to walk with" functions as an adjective describing "no one". "But" introduces a contrasting clause indicating the speaker's happiness.

• Ain't misbehavin'

  ➔ Contraction, Present continuous

  ➔ "Ain't" is a contraction of "am not/is not/are not", and the overall structure suggests a present continuous meaning of ongoing behavior: I am not misbehaving.

• savin' all my love for you baby

  ➔ Present continuous, Object pronoun

  ➔ "Savin'" is a contraction of "saving" , using the present continuous tense. "You" is used as object pronoun.

• I know for certain the one I love

  ➔ Verb phrase, Relative Clause

  ➔ "I know" is a verb phrase. "the one I love" is a relative clause modifying "one", using the relative pronoun implied - "who/whom/that".

• I'm through with flirtin', it's you that I'm thinkin' of

  ➔ Phrasal Verb, Cleft sentence, Present continuous

  ➔ "Through with" is a phrasal verb. "It's you that..." is a cleft sentence emphasizing "you". "I'm thinkin' of" uses the present continuous to describe a current state of thought.

• Your kisses are worth waitin' for

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement, Worth + gerund

  ➔ The subject "kisses" agrees with the plural verb form "are". "Worth" is followed by a gerund ("waitin'").

• I don't stay out late, nowhere to go

  ➔ Auxiliary verb + main verb, Adverb of place

  ➔ "Don't stay" uses the auxiliary verb "do" to form the negative. "Nowhere" functions as an adverb of place, modifying the verb "to go".

• I'm home about eight, just me and my radio

  ➔ Contraction, Adverb of time, compound subject

  ➔ "I'm" is a contraction of "I am". "About eight" functions as an adverbial phrase of time. "Me and my radio" is a compound subject.