The lead sheet for “Ain’t Misbehavin'” is available for download as a PDF.

Ain’t Misbehavin’

“Ain’t Misbehavin’” was written in 1929 by Fats Waller (music) with lyrics by Andy Razaf and Harry Brooks for the Harlem revue Hot Chocolates. Premiered at Connie’s Inn during the Harlem Renaissance, it became a defining stride-era hit. Waller reportedly composed it while playing piano between card games, lending the tune its easy, playful swing.

Soon recorded by Waller and popularized by Louis Armstrong, the song crossed into mainstream American culture. Its witty declaration of fidelity—“No one to talk with, all by myself”—felt both sly and sincere. Revived for new audiences in the 1978 Broadway revue Ain’t Misbehavin’, it remains a jazz standard, cherished for its buoyant melody and intimate charm.

Lead Sheet

The sheet music below is a lead sheet containing the chords and melody of the piece.

Download “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (1 page) as a PDF

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