Harlem On My Mind
Irving Berlin
[Verse:]
Em'ralds in my bracelets and diamonds in my rings
A Riviera chateau and a lot of other things
And I'm blue, so blue am I
Lots of ready money in seven diff'rent banks
I counted up this morning, it's about a million francs
And I'm blue, so blue, and I know why
[Refrain:]
I've got Harlem on my mind
I've a longing to be lowdown
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been wined and I've been dined
But I'm heading for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
I go to supper with a French Marquis
Each evening after the show
My lips begin to whisper "Mon Cheri"
But my heart keeps singing "Hi-de-ho"
I've become too darn refined
And at night I hate to go down
To the high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed
With Harlem on my mind
[Transcript of Ethel Waters' version:]
[Verse:]
Em'ralds in my bracelets, diamonds in my rings
A Riviera chateau and a lot of other things
And I'm blue, so blue am I
Lots of ready money in seven diff'rent banks
I counted up this morning, it was 'bout a million francs
And I'm blue, so blue, and I know why
[1st refrain:]
I've got Harlem on my mind
And I'm longin' to be lowdown
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been dined and I've been wined
But I'm headin' for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
I go to supper with a French Marquis
Each evening after the show
My lips begin to whisper "Mon Cheri"
But my heart keeps singin' "Hi-de-ho"
I've become too damned refined
And at night I hate to go down
To that high-falutin' flat that Lady Mendel designed
With Harlem on my mind
[2nd refrain:]
I've got Harlem on my mind
And I'm longing to be lowdown
And my "parlez-vous" will not ring true
With Harlem on my mind
I've been dined and I've been wined
But sure as your born I'm headin' for a showdown
'Cause I can't go on from night to dawn
With Harlem on my mind
And when I'm bathing in my marble tub
Each evening after the show
I get to thinkin' 'bout that Cotton Club
And my heart starts chirping "Hi-de-ho"
Help me!
I've been too damned refined
And at night I hate to go down
To that flat with fifty million Frenchmen taggin' behind
With Harlem on my mind