Jess (falconry) anklet worn by the bird, which is itself formed of another rectangular strip of leather, bound together at the ends by a grommet (usually of brass), prevented from slipping through the grommet by the knobbed end. Often, another slit is placed near the thin end of the jess cut about one inch long and running lengthwise, through which a special type of swivel is fitted, preventing the whole arrangement from twisting or tangling about itself or the bird when a leash is threaded through the other end. Their intent is more to prevent the risk of the bird deciding to
Things Ain't What They Used to Be Be", "Blue Serge" and "Moon Mist". Jazz musician and historian Chris Tyle argues that most likely Mercer Ellington came up with the melody and his father then arranged the song for the band. The song is most often played as an instrumental. Lyrics were written by Ted Persons. Johnny Hodges played it first, in Hollywood on July 3, 1941. Duke Ellington played it for the film "Cabin in the Sky" (1943). Things Ain't What They Used to Be "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" is a 1942 jazz standard with music by Mercer Ellington and lyrics by Ted Persons.