Original Lyrics – Just A Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody
I’m just a gigolo and everywhere I go
People know the part I’m playing
Paid for every dance, selling each romance
Ooh, what they’re saying
There will come a day and youth will pass away
What, what will they say about me
When the end comes I know there’s a just a gigolo’s
Life goes on without me
I’m just a gigolo everywhere I go
People know the part I’m playing
Paid for every dance, selling each romance
Ooh, what they’re saying
And there will come a day and youth will pass away
What will they say about me
When the end comes I know there’s a just a gigolo’s
Life goes on without me
‘Cause I ain’t got nobody
Oh and there’s nobody that cares for me
There’s nobody that cares for me
I’m so sad and lonely
Sad and lonely, sad and lonely
Won’t some sweet mama
Come and take a chance with me
‘Cause I ain’t so bad
Sing on, pretty love song, all of the time
She will only be, only be
I ain’t got nobody
Oh and there’s nobody that cares for me
There’s nobody that cares for me
Nobody that cares for me
Nobody that cares for me
I ain’t got nobody, nobody
Nobody that cares for me
There’s nobody that cares for me
I’m so sad and lonely
Oh lonely, oh lonely
Won’t some sweet mama
Come and rescue me
‘Cause I ain’t so bad
And I’ll sing her three love songs all of the time
‘Cause she will only be, only, only, only, only, only, only be my baby
Come on, sugar, darling, honey
[Incomprehensible]
And there’s nobody, there’s nobody
There’s nobody, there’s nobody
There’s no one, there’s no one
[Incomprehensible]
Nobody, no, no one
Nobody, nobody
Nobody, nobody
Nobody cares for me
The Authors of Just A Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody: Irving Caesar – Leonello Casucci – Julius Brammer, Roger A. Graham – Spencer Williams
These are actually two separate songs that Louis Prima combined in his famous 1956 version.
The first part, Just a Gigolo, is a 1929 adaptation by Irving Caesar of an Austrian tango titled “Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo”, composed in Vienna in 1928 by Leonello Casucci with lyrics written in 1924 by Julius Brammer.
The second part, I Ain’t Got Nobody, was written earlier, in 1915, with lyrics by Roger A. Graham and music composed by Spencer Williams.
Video of Just A Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody performed by Louis Prima
🎸 Chord Chart – “Just a Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody” (Key: C)
📍 Part 1 – Just a Gigolo
Swing feel, light and smooth
| C | Cmaj7 | C6 | G7 |
| Am | D7 | Dm | G7 |
| C | C7 | A7 | Dm |
| Fm | C | Dm | G7 | C |
📍 Part 2 – I Ain’t Got Nobody
More energetic swing, classic Louis Prima style
| C | C | A7 | Dm |
| Dm | G7 | C | C |
| C | C | A7 | Dm |
| Dm | G7 | C | C |
🎶 Suggested Medley Structure
- Swing intro on C
- Just a Gigolo – repeat progression twice
- Turnaround – C → G7
- I Ain’t Got Nobody – repeat progression twice
- Ending – slow down on C
🎹 Beginner-Friendly Simplified Version
JUST A GIGOLO: | C | C | G7 | G7 | | Am | D7 | Dm | G7 | | C | C7 | A7 | Dm | | F | C | G7 | C | I AIN’T GOT NOBODY: | C | C | A7 | Dm | | Dm | G7 | C | C |
This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)
