It Ain't Necessarily So
George Gershwin, Maxine Sullivan
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It ain't necessarily so It ain't necessarily so The t'ings dat yo' li'ble To read in de Bible, It ain't necessarily so. Li'l David was small, but oh my! Li'l David was small, but oh my! He fought Big Goliath Who lay down an' dieth ! Li'l David was small, but oh my! Wadoo, zim bam boddle-oo, Hoodle ah da wa da, Scatty wah! Oh yeah!... Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale, Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale, Fo' he made his home in Dat fish's abdomen. Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale. Li'l Moses was found in a stream. Li'l Moses was found in a stream. He floated on water Till Ol' Pharaoh's daughter, She fished him, she said, from dat stream. Wadoo Well, it ain't necessarily so Well, it ain't necessarily so Dey tells all you chillun De debble's a villun, But it ain't necessarily so ! To get into Hebben Don' snap for a sebben ! Live clean ! Don' have no fault ! Oh, I takes dat gospel Whenever it's pos'ble, But wid a grain of salt. Methus'lah lived nine hundred years, Methus'lah lived nine hundred years, But who calls dat livin' When no gal will give in To no man what's nine hundred years ? I'm preachin' dis sermon to show, It ain't nece-ain't nece Ain't nece-ain't nece Ain't necessarily, so !
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Written by: Dorothy Heyward, Du Bose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Composer"It Ain't Necessarily So" was composed by George Gershwin, an American composer who is known for his contribution to both classical and popular music.
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Original WorkThe song is from the 1935 opera "Porgy and Bess," which was composed by Gershwin.
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Lyrics WriterThe lyrics of "It Ain't Necessarily So" were written by Ira Gershwin, George's brother.
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ThemeThe song questions traditional religious teachings, illustrating Gershwin's willingness to address controversial subjects.
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CharacterIn "Porgy and Bess," the song is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer who is dubious and disreputable.
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PopularityDespite its controversial themes, "It Ain't Necessarily So" has been widely covered and recorded by various artists, speaking to its enduring popularity.
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Jazz InfluenceThe song is noted for its strong jazz influences, a genre that Gershwin both loved and impeccably utilized in his composition.
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Covered ArtistsSome of the most famous cover versions of the song include performances by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong.
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Concert TraditionIt's a tradition in concert performances for the performers to create their individual verses, often using humorous or topical content, reflecting on the original structure of the song.
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Album InclusionIt was included in the album "Porgy and Bess" (1958), which is a collaboration between two great jazz musicians, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
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Broadway RevivalThe song was included on Broadway 2012 revival of "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," highlighting its enduring resonance.
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Lyrics interpretationSome interpret the lyrics and story of "It Ain't Necessarily So" to be a commentary on moral relativism and the power of persuasion.
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Influence on MediaThis song title was used as the title of a best-selling book by Robert A. Wilson, demonstrating its influence extends beyond music.
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Variety in VersionsThe original song duration is approximately two minutes, but it varies depending on the artist covering the song.
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Successful LegacyIt is grabbed a special place in the Great American Songbook, a celebration of the popular music that shaped the 20th century.
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Citation
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