Why Don’t You Do Right?

Lead sheet for “Why dont you do right?”

“Why Don’t You Do Right?” (originally recorded as “Weed Smoker’s Dream” in 1936) is an American blues and jazz-influenced pop song usually credited to Kansas Joe McCoy. A minor key twelve-bar blues with a few chord substitutions, it is considered a classic “woman’s blues” song and has become a standard. Singer Lil Green recorded a popular rendition in 1941, which Peggy Lee recorded the next year – accompanied by Benny Goodman – and made one of her signature songs.

The song appeared in the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, performed by actress Amy Irving as the singing voice of Jessica Rabbit.

In 1936, the Harlem Hamfats jazz band recorded “The Weed Smoker’s Dream”. The original Decca Records release listed the songwriters as “McCoy-Moran” (Kansas Joe McCoy and Herb Morand were members of the band). McCoy later rewrote the song, refining the composition and lyrics. The new tune, titled “Why Don’t You Do Right?”, was recorded by Lil Green in 1941, with guitar by William “Big Bill” Broonzy. The recording was an early jazz and blues hit.

The song has its roots in blues music and originally dealt with a marijuana smoker reminiscing about lost financial opportunities. As it was rewritten, it takes on the perspective of the female partner, who chastises her man for his irresponsible ways, complaining that her other lovers provide her with more money: “Why don’t you do right, like some other men do? Get out of here and get me some money too.”

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from Inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” – Carl Jung