Drop Me off in Harlem
Duke Ellington
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Drop me off in Harlem, Any place in Harlem, There's someone waiting there Who makes it seem like Heaven up in Harlem. I don't want your Dixie, You can keep your Dixie, There's no one down in Dixie who can take me 'Way from my hot Harlem. Harlem has those southern skies, They're in my baby's smile, I idolize my baby's eyes and Classy up-town style. If Harlem moved to China, I know of nothing finer, Than to stow away on a plane, some day and have them Drop me off in Harlem. Harlem has those southern skies, They're in my baby's smile, I idolize my baby's eyes and Classy up-town style. If Harlem moved to China, I know of nothing finer, Than to stow away on a plane, some day and have them Drop me off in Harlem. If Harlem moved to China I know nothing finer than to be in Harlem
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Written by: EDWARD KENNEDY ELLINGTON, NICK A. KENNY
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Song Origin"Drop Me Off In Harlem" is a jazz classic composed by the legendary Duke Ellington, renowned as one of the most influential figures in jazz.
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CollaborationThe song was co-written by Duke Ellington and Nick Kenny, a famous songwriter, and newspaper columnist in 1933.
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Era Depiction"Drop Me Off In Harlem" evokes the spirit, ambience, and cultural vibrancy of the Harlem Renaissance, a period of remarkable creativity and intellectual life among African Americans during the 1920s and 1930s.
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Stylistic CharmLike much of Ellington's work, "Drop Me Off In Harlem" features a sophisticated blend of big-band swing and bluesy notes, characteristic of the jazz age.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by many artists across different genres, testifying to its timeless appeal. Some prominent names include Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Diana Krall.
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Lyrics CompositionThe lyrics of "Drop Me Off In Harlem" are infused with colloquial speech and references to cultural and geographical specifics, capturing the essence of Harlem during the jazz age.
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Contextual RepresentationReferences such as "at Lenox Avenue" and "at a table right there" in the song's lyrics give listeners a vivid undertone of the thriving and buzzing social life of Harlem during that time period.
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Re-emergenceThe song was reintroduced to contemporary audiences when it was featured in Woody Allen's 1999 film, "Sweet and Lowdown".
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Preservation"Drop Me Off In Harlem" is not just a song, it is a part of the cultural narrative of the Harlem Renaissances, preserved through the medium of music.
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OrchestrationsDuke Ellington often uses contrasting groupings of instruments to create the impression of a “conversation” among instruments, a signature style observed in "Drop Me Off In Harlem”.
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Cultural InfluenceThe song is often regarded as an exemplification of the Harlem's cultural dynamism and an ode to the birthplace of jazz and blues.
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Musical NotationThe iconic 'call and response' pattern typical of African-American music can be recognized in the arrangement of "Drop Me Off In Harlem".
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Citation
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"Drop Me off in Harlem Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/5487336/Duke+Ellington/Drop+Me+off+in+Harlem>.
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