"I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" is a 1931 popular

song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

. The music was written by Fred E. Ahlert, the lyrics by

Roy Turk Roy Kenneth Turk (September 20, 1892 – November 30, 1934) was an American songwriter and lyricist, who frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert, with whom he wrote their popular 1929 song "Mean to Me (1929 song), Mean to Me", w ...

. The song was published in

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

. It had three periods of great popularity: in

, right after its publication; in

1946 1946 (Roman numerals, MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1946th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 946th year of the 2nd millennium, the 46th year of the 20th centur ...

; and in

1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...

into 1962. In 1931, the biggest-selling version was either by

Russ Columbo Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo (January 14, 1908 – September 2, 1934), known as Russ Columbo, was an American baritone, songwriter, violinist, and actor. He is famous for romantic ballads such as his signature tune "You Call It Madne ...

or by

Wayne King Harold Wayne King (February 16, 1901 – July 16, 1985) was an American musician, songwriter, and bandleader with a long association with both NBC and CBS. He was referred to as "the Waltz King" because much of his most popular music involved w ...

; both versions and recordings by

Benny Krueger Bennie Krueger (July 17, 1898 – April 29, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist. After a short stint with Ross Gorman's band, Krueger's joined the Acme Sextette in New York, which included Miff Mole on trombone, Ernie Holst on violin, and ...

's orchestra (with a vocal by Smith Ballew) and by Kate Smith all had significant popularity. In September 1943,

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

sang this song on the radio series '' A Date with Judy''. In 1946, three versions, by

Tommy Dorsey Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombone, trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-to ...

's orchestra (with a vocal by Stuart Foster), by

, and by Skinnay Ennis, all contended for popularity. In 1961, a US hit recording was issued by Linda Scott. It reached a peak position #12 in 8 weeks on the Billboard chart; The song has been recorded by many artists (ranging from country-blues legends like

Moon Mullican Aubrey Wilson Mullican (March 29, 1909 – January 1, 1967), known professionally as Moon Mullican and nicknamed "King of the Hillbilly Piano Players", was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist. He was associated with ...

and

Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis m ...

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Cool", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of ...

) and is now a standard.

Recorded versions

The Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (1911–1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (1916–1995), and mezzo ...

and Vic Schoen's orchestra (recorded May 8,

, released by

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

as catalog number 18899A, with the flip side "Azusa") *The Aristocrats (recorded September 1,

, released by Romeo Records as catalog number 1711, with the flip side "Let's Drift Away on Dreamer's Bay") *

Georgie Auld Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Early years Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Auld ...

and his orchestra (recorded April 30,

, released by Musicraft Records as catalog number 15078, with the flip side "

Just You, Just Me "Just You, Just Me" is a song from the 1929 musical film ''Marianne'', composed by Jesse Greer with lyrics by Raymond Klages. It was introduced by Marion Davies and Lawrence Gray. The song has had many revisions after its first appearance and h ...

") *

Hoagy Carmichael Hoagland Howard "Hoagy" Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor, author and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s and 1940s, a ...

and his orchestra (released by ARA Records as catalog number 148, with the flip side "I Can't Get Started") * Larry Clinton and his orchestra (released by Cosmo Records as catalog number 704, with the flip side " More Than You Know") * King Cole Trio (released by

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

as catalog number 1030, with the flip side "You're the Cream in My Coffee"Capitol Records in the 1000 to 1499 series
/ref>) *

(recorded September 3,

, released by

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer, incorporated in 1901. Victor was an independent enterprise until 1929 when it was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and became ...

as catalog number 22801, with the flip side " Guilty"Victor Records in the 22500 to 22999 series
/ref>) * Eddie Davis Trio (recorded August 16, 1955, released by King Records as catalog number 4832, with the flip side "It's a Pity to Say Goodbye") *

Jimmie Davis James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American singer, songwriter, and Democratic Party politician. After achieving fame for releasing both sacred and popular songs, Davis served as governor of Louisiana from ...

(recorded March 6,

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito ...

, released by

as catalog number 29157, with the flip side "Just Between You and Me") * The Deep River Boys (featuring Harry Douglass) (released October

1959 Events January * January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...

by Top Rank Records as catalog number JAR174, with the flip side "Timbers Gotta Roll") * The Delicates (released

Roulette Records Roulette Records was an American record company and label founded in 1957 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Kahl, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed ...

as catalog number 4387, with the flip side "Strange Love") * The DeMarco Sisters with Bud Freeman (recorded October

1945 1945 marked the end of World War II, the fall of Nazi Germany, and the Empire of Japan. It is also the year concentration camps were liberated and the only year in which atomic weapons have been used in combat. Events World War II will be ...

, released by

Majestic Records Majestic Records was a mid-20th century record label based in New York City, incorporated in 1945 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Majestic Radio & Television. The label enjoyed its greatest commercial success in the 1940s until expansion and sup ...

as catalog number 7194, with the flip side "Chiquita Banana") * Hal Denman and his orchestra (recorded November 27,

, released by

Supertone Records Supertone Records was an American record label in the 1920s. Supertone Records were marketed by Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1924 and again in 1929–1931. Supertone was one of several record disc brand names marketed by Sears. Supertone records wer ...

as catalog number 2768, with the flip side "How's Your Uncle?") *

Lou Donaldson Louis Andrew Donaldson Jr. (November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was he ...

on his 1995 album ''

Caracas Caracas ( , ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas (CCS), is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern p ...

'' *

and his orchestra (vocal: Stuart Foster; recorded April 16,

, released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1901, with the flip side "Remember Me") * Skinnay Ennis and his orchestra (released by

Signature Records Signature Records was a jazz record company and label founded in 1939 by Bob Thiele when he was 17 years old. Its roster included Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines, Erroll Garner, and Lester Young. At age 14, Thiele was a disc jockey for his own jazz ...

as catalog number 15033B, with the flip side "Got a Date with an Angel") *

Erroll Garner Erroll Louis Garner (June 15, 1921 – January 2, 1977) was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His instrumental ballad "Misty", his best-known composition, has become a jazz standard. It was first re ...

Trio (recorded June 28,

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – 1950 Sverdlovsk plane crash, Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 ...

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog numbers 39038, with the flip side " When Johnny Comes Marching Home,"Columbia Records in the 39000 to 39499 series
/ref> and 39168, with the flip side " It Could Happen to You") * Ken Griffin (recorded April

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog number 40101, with the flip side " It Had to Be You") * Annette Hanshaw (recorded September 22,

, released by

Harmony Records Harmony Records was a record label owned by Columbia Records that debuted in 1925. History Harmony Records began for low-priced 78 rpm records in the 1920s and 1930s. It was revived for budget albums of reissued tracks in 1957. The revived labe ...

as catalog number 1376-H, with the flip side " Guilty") * Eddie Heywood (recorded May 29,

, released by

as catalog number 23590, with the flip side "Loch Lomond") * Eden Kane (recorded

, released by

in Britain as catalog number F 11460, with the flip side " Music For Strings". In early 1962, this version reached the British Top 10, peaking at #7 with his version. * Lloyd Keating and his orchestra (recorded August 20,

, released by Clarion Records as catalog number 11002, with the flip side " Love Letters in the Sand") *

(recorded September 3,

, released by

as catalog number 22817, with the flip side " Guilty") *

and his orchestra (vocal: Smith Ballew; recorded September 14,

, released by

Brunswick Records Brunswick Records is an American record label founded in 1916. History 1916–1929 Records under the Brunswick label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, a company based in Dubuque, Iowa which had been manufacturing ...

as catalog number 6185, with the flip side "I Idolize My Baby's Eyes") *

(from '' Dream with Dean'', released by

Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Green Day, En ...

RSD2014) * Tony Martin with Al Sack's Starlight Orchestra (recorded April

, released by

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. Mercury Records released ...

as catalog numbers 3019Mercury Records in the 3000 to 3072 series
/ref> and 5034,
/ref> both with the flip side "Without You") * Kenzie Moore with Joe Dyson’s Band (recorded January

, released by

Specialty Records Specialty Records was an American record label founded in Los Angeles in 1945 by Art Rupe. It was known for rhythm and blues, gospel, and early rock and roll, and recorded artists such as Little Richard, Guitar Slim, Percy Mayfield, and Lloyd P ...

as catalog number 456, with the flip side "Let It Lay") * Leon Payne (released by

as catalog number 1405, with the flip side "If I Could Only Live My Life Over") *

The Platters The Platters are an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The act ...

(From '' Volume Two'', released by

as catalog number 20216 ) * The RadioLites (recorded September 18,

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog number 2540-D, with the flip side " Love Letters in the Sand"Columbia Records in the 2500-D to 2999-D series
/ref>) *

The Ravens The Ravens were an American R&B vocal group, formed in 1946 by Jimmy Ricks and Warren Suttles. They were one of the most successful and most influential vocal quartets of the period, and had several hits on the R&B chart in the late 1940s and e ...

(recorded September

1947 It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January–February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the country i ...

, released by National Records as catalog number 9059, with the flip side "How Could I Know?") * Linda Scott (released by Canadian-American Records as catalog number 129) * Bobby Sherwood and his orchestra (recorded May 5,

1942 The Uppsala Conflict Data Program project estimates this to be the deadliest year in human history in terms of conflict deaths, placing the death toll at 4.62 million. However, the Correlates of War estimates that the prior year, 1941, was th ...

, released by

as catalog number 107, with the flip side "") *

(recorded July 30,

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog number 36918, with the flip side " You Go to My Head"Columbia Records in the 36500 to 36999 series
/ref>) * Kate Smith (recorded September 15,

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog number 2539-D, with the flip side "You Call It Madness") * Claude Thornhill and his orchestra (recorded July 25,

, released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

as catalog number 36858, with the flip side "Buster's Last Stand") *

Al Trace Albert J. Trace ''(aka'' Albert Joseph Trace; ''né'' Feinberg; 25 December 1900 – 31 August 1993) was an American songwriter and orchestra leader of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. His popularity peaked in the Chicago area during the height of the ...

's Silly Symphonists (released by Hit Records as catalog number 8081A, with the flip side "Sugar Blues") *

Billy Williams Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is an American former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs. A six-time All-Star, Williams was named the 1961 National L ...

Quartet (released by

as catalog number 70012, with the flip side "Mad About Cha") *

Country Joe McDonald Joseph Allen "Country Joe" McDonald (born January 1, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter and musician who was the lead vocalist of the 1960s psychedelic rock group Country Joe and the Fish.Richard Brenneman"Country Joe McDonald Revives Anti ...

(Paris Sessions) (1973) (

Vanguard Records Vanguard Recording Society is an American record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the so ...

) * Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and

Ariana Grande Ariana Grande-Butera ( ; born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Regarded as a pop icon and an influential figure in popular music, Grande is known for her four-octave vocal range, which extends into the whistle re ...

(released by

on April 24, 2025)

Translations

It was translated into French and performed as "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" by Georges Beauchemin in 1932, and Charles Trenet in 1946.Trenet
/ref>

References

{{authority control 1931 songs Songs with music by Fred E. Ahlert Songs with lyrics by Roy Turk Wayne King songs Linda Scott songs Marty Robbins songs Canadian-American Records singles