I AIN'T GOT NOTHING BUT THE BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

Composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Don George in 1944, "i ain't got nothing but the blues" expresses melancholy and romantic despair, grounded in sophisticated jazz harmonies. Its lyrics convey both humor and heartfelt emotion.

The first recording, made by Ellington and His Orchestra in New York, 1944, features smooth vocal delivery over lush orchestral textures, with harmonic richness allowing for improvisational solos.

Later renditions by vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and instrumental interpretations emphasize its 32-bar form, highlighting blues-inflected melodic lines and rhythmic flexibility for both big-band and small-group settings.