Don't Explain (song)
"Don't Explain" is a song written by jazz singer Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. It was Holiday's final song.
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."Recording session
Session #52: New York City, November 8, 1944, Decca, Toots Camarata and His Orchestra, with Russ Case, Hymie Schertzer, Jack Cressey, Larry Binyon and Dave Harris, Dave Bowman, Carl Kress, Haig Stephens, George Wettling, Billie Holiday, and six strings.Cover versions
- Helen Merrill – on her album Helen Merrill
- John Coltrane
- Abbey Lincoln – on her album That's Him!
- Charlie Byrd – on the album Byrd's Word!
- Wes Montgomery
- Anita O'Day – for her album Trav'lin' Light
- Dinah Washington – I Wanna Be Loved
- Dexter Gordon - on his A Swingin' Affair
- Nina Simone – in her album Let It All Out
- Carmen McRae – included in her album Woman Talk
- Lou Rawls – on his album Soulin'
- Diana Ross – for the album Lady Sings the Blues
- Natalie Cole – for her album Take a Look
- Gabrielle Goodman with Kevin Eubanks – on Travelin' Light
- Malia
- Xiu Xiu – Nina
- Nancy Kelly
- Cassandra Wilson - ''Coming Forth by Day''