It Ain't No Use

Lyrics: Jerry Williams, Gary U.S. Bonds, Don Hollinger
Music: Jerry Williams, Gary U.S. Bonds, Don Hollinger

Played by Jerry Garcia initially with Merl Saunders and then with many of his solo bands. See below for information on the origin of this song.

It ain't no use
For you to cry
Woman you better
Dry your eye
You done me wrong
Now you want to come back
But it's no use
It's no use

There was a time
You was my pride and joy
The woman I loved
Like a child loves his toy
You hurt me so
I want you to know
It's no use
It's no use

I wanted you
You wanted someone else
You went away and left me
Left me all by my
Left me all by my
Left me all by myself

Now it's your turn to cry
Pay for your mistakes
Woman I love you
But it's too late
You hurt me so
I want you to know
It's too late
It's too late

[mumbled lines on Keystone recording]
Woman I love you
But it's too late
You hurt me so
I want you know
It's too late
It's too late

There was a time
You was my pride and joy
The woman I loved
Like a child loves his toy
You hurt me so
I want you to know
It's too late
It's too late

I wanted you
You wanted someone else
You went away and left me
Left me all by my
Left me all by my
Left me all by myself

Now it's your turn to cry
Pay for your mistakes
Woman I love you
But it's too late
You done me wrong
You want to come back home
But it's too late
It's too late

You done me wrong
You want to come back home
But it's too late
Jerry Garcia Recordings
     Date Album Recorded By
     10 Jul 1973 Keystone Companions: The Complete 1973 Fantasy Recordings Garcia/Saunders
     11 Aug 1974 Garcia Live Volume 9 Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders
     15 Dec 1974 Garcia Live Volume 3 Legion Of Mary
     19 Apr 1975 Jerry Garcia Collection, Volume 1 Legion Of Mary (note 1)
     18 Nov 1975 Jerry Garcia Collection, Volume 2: Let It Rock Jerry Garcia Band
     31 Dec 1975 Garcia Live Volume 5 Jerry Garcia Band

Notes
(1) included on a bonus disc issued with advance orders from jerrygarcia.com

Origins
On the "Live At The Keystone" recording, the song is titled "It's No Use" and credited to Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn: but the song sung by Garcia bears no relation to the Byrds' song of the same name. On "Let It Rock", it's titled "Ain't No Use" and credited to 'Traditional'. At times it has been credited to Kirkland and Wyche, but it bears only a passing relationship to the blues standard recorded by Sarah Vaughn, Charles Brown, Big Maybelle etc.

Excellent research by Eric Levy has discovered that the true title is "It Ain't No Use." The song was co-written by Jerry Williams (aka Swamp Dogg), Gary U.S. Bonds, and Don Hollinger and was first recorded by blues/R&B artist Z.Z. Hill on his 1971 Swamp Dogg-produced album "The Brand New Z.Z. Hill." The full title on the album is in fact "Act 1: Scene 1: It Ain't No Use." The song was later covered by Chicago blues pianist Henry Gray--sometimes as "It Ain't No Use" and sometimes as "Ain't No Use."

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography
For online chords and TAB see www.rukind.com

 


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