“I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’ ” is a bass-baritone aria sung by the character Porgy from George Gershwin’s 1935 “folk-opera” Porgy and Bess (1934). The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, and Ira Gershwin. It is one of the most famous arias from the opera (along with “Summertime”, “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, and “Bess, You Is My Woman Now”) and it has been recorded by hundreds of singers and music groups. The aria expresses a cheerful acceptance of poverty as freedom from worldly cares. Porgy says he has the most important things in life, “ ’Cause de things dat I prize, / Like de stars in de skies / All are free”. Most of all, he’s “got my gal, got my Lord, got my song”.
Songs with Banjo from Harold Hagler
