Don't Explain (song)

For other uses, see Don't Explain.

"Don't Explain" is a song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. It was Holiday's final song.^[1]

"Don't Explain"
Single by Billie Holiday
B-side	"What Is This Thing Called Love?"
Released	1946
Recorded	November 8, 1944
Genre	Jazz
Length	2:53
Label	Decca
Songwriter(s)	Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
Billie Holiday singles chronology
"Lover Man" (1945) "Don't Explain" (1946)

Overview

In her 1956 autobiography, Holiday cites the infidelity of her first husband, Jimmy Monroe, as the inspiration for this song—specifically, an instance in which Monroe's woeful attempt to explain away lipstick on his collar elicits Holiday's disgusted response: "Take a bath, man; don't explain."^[2]

Recording session

Session #52: New York City, November 8, 1944, Decca, Toots Camarata and His Orchestra, with Russ Case (trumpet), Hymie Schertzer, Jack Cressey (alto saxophone), Larry Binyon and Dave Harris (tenor saxophone), Dave Bowman (piano), Carl Kress (guitar), Haig Stephens (bass), George Wettling (drums), Billie Holiday (vocals), and six strings.^[3]

Notable cover versions

• Helen Merrill (1954)
• John Coltrane (1957)
• Abbey Lincoln (1957)
• Charlie Byrd (1958)
• Wes Montgomery (1959)
• Anita O'Day – for her album Trav'lin' Light (1961)
• Dinah Washington – I Wanna Be Loved (1962)^[4]
• Dexter Gordon (1962)
• Nina Simone – in her album Let It All Out (1966)
• Carmen McRae – included in her album Woman Talk (1966)
• Lou Rawls (1966)
• Diana Ross – for the album Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
• Natalie Cole – for her album Take a Look (1993)
• Gabrielle Goodman with Kevin Eubanks (1993)
• Etta James – Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday (1994)
• Regina Carter (1995)
• Dakota Staton (1996)
• Vanessa Daou (1996)
• Molly Johnson (2000)
• Sarah Vaughan (2001)
• Angela McCluskey (2002)
• Rita Reys (2004)
• Cat Power (2008)
• Oleta Adams (2009) - Let's Stay Here album
• DeeDee Bridgewater (2010)
• Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa (2011)
• Malia (2012)^[5]
• Xiu Xiu (2013)
• Nancy Kelly (2014)^[6]
• Cassandra Wilson (2015)
• Rebecca Ferguson – Lady Sings the Blues (2015)

^[7]

Trivia

Lyrics from "Don't Explain" were sung by Carlo Marx (portrayed by actor Tom Sturridge) in the 2012 film adaptation by Walter Salles of the 1957 novel by Jack Kerouac, On the Road, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.^[8]