Black Coffee

Peggy Lee

About Black Coffee

"Black Coffee" is a song with music by Sonny Burke and words by Paul Francis Webster. The song was published in 1948. Sarah Vaughan charted with this song in 1949 on Columbia. Peggy Lee recorded the song on May 4, 1953 and it was included on her first LP record Black Coffee. It was included in the soundtrack for the 1960 Columbia Pictures feature Let No Man Write My Epitaph, recorded on Verve by Ella Fitzgerald, also in 1960. The version by Ella Fitzgerald was a favourite song of Polish Nobel Prize laureate Wisława Szymborska who chose it as the song to be performed at her funeral.  


Year:
1999
3:07
83 

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I'm feelin' mighty lonesome 
Haven't slept a wink 
I walk the floor and watch the door 
And in between I drink 
Black coffee 
Love's a hand-me-down brew 
I'll never know a Sunday 
In this weekday room 

I'm talkin' to the shadows 
One o'clock 'til four 
And Lord, how slow the moments go 
When all I do is pour 
Black coffee 
Since the blues caught my eye 
I'm hangin' out on Monday 
My Sunday dreams to dry 

Now man was born to go a lovin' 
But was a woman born to weep and fret 
To stay at home and tend her oven 
And down her past regrets 
In coffee and cigarettes 

I'm moonin' all the mornin' 
Moanin' all the night 
And in between it's nicotine 
And not much heart to fight 
Black coffee 
Feelin' low as the ground 
It's drivin' me crazy 
This waitin' for my baby 
To maybe come around

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Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002) was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and performer. She wrote music for films, acted, and created conceptual record albums—encompassing poetry, jazz, chamber pop, and art songs. more »

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Written by: Francis Joseph Burke, Paul Francis Webster

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Performers
"Black Coffee" is not a duet; it is a timeless jazz standard performed individually by many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.
Release Years
Peggy Lee first recorded the song in 1953, while Ella Fitzgerald's version came out in 1960.
Era
Both interpretations came out during the golden age of jazz, which speaks volumes about the popularity and timeless essence of this song.
Iconic Versions
"Black Coffee" is considered one of Peggy Lee's signature songs, although it has been performed by many artists. Ella Fitzgerald's version is also highly praised among jazz enthusiasts.
Song Creators
The song was written by Sonny Burke, the music, and Paul Francis Webster, the lyrics.
Lyrics Theme
The lyrics of "Black Coffee" portray the pain and loneliness of lost love, as expressed through the poignant metaphor of drinking black coffee.
Album
Ella Fitzgerald included her version of "Black Coffee" in the album "Ella Fitzgerald Sings Sweet Songs for Swingers."
Accolades
Peggy Lee's rendition of "Black Coffee" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Covers
Since its inception, "Black Coffee" has been covered by various artists spanning different genres, showing the song's enduring popularity and versatile appeal.
Emotional Appeal
Both versions by Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee are lauded for evoking deep emotion, capturing the melancholy narrative of the song perfectly.
Peggy Lee’s Version
Her rendition is noted for its smoky, sultry vocals which animate the song's narrative of heartbreak and despair.
Ella Fitzgerald's Version
Known for her flawless diction, pitch, and improvisational ability, Ella brought a different touch to "Black Coffee," with her version regarded as more upbeat and vibrant.
Song Elements
"Black Coffee" uses the metaphor of having sleepless nights and consuming black coffee, while reflecting on a heartache, which is common in many blues songs.

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