Published:
2026-01-12
Updated:
2026-01-12
Learning Ukulele with Curt
I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
"I Ain't Got Nobody" (sometimes referred to as "I'm So Sad and Lonely" or "I Ain't Got Nobody Much") is a popular song and copyrighted in 1915. It was first recorded by Marion Harris, and became a perennial standard, recorded many times over the following generations, in styles ranging from pop to jazz to country music.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: ULHA-YB-116
Main Category: Songs Main Instrument: Ukulele
Subjects: Chords
2026-01-12
"I Ain't Got Nobody" (sometimes referred to as "I'm So Sad and Lonely" or "I Ain't Got Nobody Much") is a popular song and copyrighted in 1915. It was first recorded by Marion Harris, and became a perennial standard, recorded many times over the following generations, in styles ranging from pop to jazz to country music.
I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
Released: 1915
I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) There are competing claims to the copyright, and thus who composed it is not clearly known.
Two copyrights from 1911 are attributed to Clarence Brandon and Billy Smythe, both St. Louis musicians. If true, this would be the first version of the words and music to "I Ain't Got Nobody". They claimed they published it that same year.
Chicago and Saint Louis ragtime pianist and blues composer Charles Warfield (1878–1955) claimed to have originally written the song and a copyright dated April 1914 attributes Warfield as the composer, David Young as the lyricist, and Marie Lucas as the arranger. This song is titled "I Ain't Got Nobody and Nobody Cares for Me". wikiwand
I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) is in the The Daily Ukulele — 365 Songs for Better Living book.
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
Ukulele Chords
These and many other chords are covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
C Tuning Chords
In the Daily Ukulele series of book the chords are actually listing in their order of appearance. And, are always the basic open position chords when possible.
Starting Melody Note and 1st Interval
- I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of F .
- Start on Fifth ↓ M2.
Intervals Legend: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is A, Em is E, etc… m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;
Harmonic Analysis (HA) Worksheet
Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating your own Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
A re-harmonization, in Red can be a simple, sticking pretty close to the original composer's intentions or complex and a whole new set of chord changes.
F: F Ionian
G Mix : C A B C D E F G`
G G Mix
F Mix : F G A Bb C D Eb F`
*This is just a chromatic walk-down to the II7 chord.
F Ionian
G Mix
C Mix/F Ion
The C Mixolydian scale: C D E F G A Bb C` contains the same notes as F Ionian: F G A Bb C D E F`
F: F Ionian
G Mix : C A B C D E F G`
G G Mix
F Mix : F G A Bb C D Eb F`
*This is just a chromatic walk-down to the II7 chord.
F Mix
D Mix
F: F Ionian
G Mix : C A B C D E F G`
G G Mix
F Mix : F G A Bb C D Eb F`
*This is just a chromatic walk-down to the II7 chord.
G Mix
The Harmonic Analysis (HA)
A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.
NOTE: A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a lead leadsheet.
Minimal roadmap information such as repeats, fine, D.S., D.C., and codas has been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book.
Sections, Verse, Chorus, 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks …
The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as indicated in the Yellow Book
. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous verse or an section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different part of the song, a
or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
If turnback chords are not indicated for these 1st and 2nd endings in the original Yellow Book leadsheet, recommended chord(s) will be indicated in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section. Typically a V or direct substitution of that next chord.
Reference Key
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
- I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of F .
Harmonic Principles Used:
These are the harmonic principles used in I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me).
- Full Diatonic – Major
- Partial Diatonic • includes Secondary Dominant
- Chromatic
- Unresolved • Unresolved chords appear identical to partial diatonic chords and are active chords, major chord types ( II , IV , V , VII ) but do not resolve to passive chords ( I , III , VI )
- Cycle
Nashville Number System (NNS)
Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as converting the Roman Numerals above to Arabic numbers.
At its simplest you simply replace the roman numbers with Arabic numbers. e.g., I becomes 1 , II becomes 2 , etc. The only exception is the bVII7 chord becomes 7 as this borrowed chord from the Mixolydian tonality is so common and the VII (half-diminished seventh) in a major chord is so rare (actually never). And, you could go as far as saying all the modes are numbered: I II III IV V VI VII — just as in the major scale. So calling it a 7 is not that far out.
Check the definitive book Nashville Number System
Scale Selection
Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed, scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical or horizontal choices. And, really, only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.
The Ionian/Major and Mixolydian/Dominant scales. Seventh chords where a prominent harmonically in the first half of the 20th century (1900 to 1940s).
Scale Abbreviation Legend
Traditional Scales: Maj: Major (Ionian), Nat Min: Natural Minor, Dim: Diminished, WT: Whole Tone, Har Min: Harmonic Minor
Contemporary Scales: Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic, Pent: Major Pentatonic, Blues
Scale/Mode Names: Ion: Ionian (Major), Dor: Dorian (Minor), Phrygian: Phrygian, Lyd: Lydian, Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant), Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor), Loc: Locrian
Altered Scales: Mix+4: Mixolydian Plus 4 / Lydian Dominant, Mix-2-6: Mixolydian flat 2, flat 6
Checkout the Lesson Series: Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.
Performance Notes
If playing guitar for this style the Freedie Green
style of accompaniment is great. A four on the floor style of a chord a beat in a driving rhythmic style using partial seventh show, the Root, Third, and Fifth. Even at times just the Third and Sevenths.
Links & Resources
- wikiwand I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
- I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) • Rosemary Clooney "I Ain't Got Nobody" on The Ed Sullivan Show
- I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) • Leon Redbone – I Aint Got Nobody (extended intro)
- I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) • Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera & The Witnesses "Just A Gigolo & I Ain't Got Nobody"
- I Ain't Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me) • David Lee Roth – Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody (Official Video) [HD]