Her first album, Abbey Lincoln's Affair, A Story of a Girl in Love was released in 1956. Also that year Lincoln starred in the film The Girl Can't Help It, for which she famously wore a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe.
Lincoln sang on the 1960s landmark jazz civil rights recording, We Insist! - Freedom Now Suite in 1960 by jazz musician and Lincolns husband from 1962-1970, Max Roach. Especially since this album, Abbey Lincoln was connected to the political fight against racism in the United States.
She co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in 1968's For Love of Ivy and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film. She also starred in the 1990 Spike Lee movie Mo' Better Blues.
In 2003, she received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Award.
Lincoln died on August 14, 2010 in Manhattan at the age of 80. Although no official cause of death was given, Lincoln had suffered deteriorating health following open heart surgery in 2007. She passed away in a Manhattan nursing home.
Afro Blue
Abbey Lincoln Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear a hand stroke on a drum
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
Rich as the night afro blue
Elegant boy, beautifil girl
Dancing for joy elegant whirl
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
Two young lovers dance face to face
With undulating grace
They gently sway, then slip away
To some secluded place
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
Rich as the night afro blue
Whispering trees, echo their sighs
Passionate pleas, tender replies
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
Rich as the night afro blue
Lovers in flight upward they glide
Burst at the height slowly subside
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
Rich as the night afro blue
And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
Until it seems it's not a dream for two for you and me
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
Rich as the night afro blue
The first verse of Abbey Lincoln's "Afro Blue" describes a spiritual connection to a homeland not physically present. The drum represents the pulse of the earth, calling up ancestral memories, evoking a sense of yearning and belonging. The second verse describes the beauty of two dancers who move with grace and elegance, lost in the pleasure of the moment. Their cocoa-colored skin adds to the rich tapestry of the night, imbued with the colors of Afrocentricity. The third verse extols the beauty of two lovers entwined in passion, the shades of their brown skin echoing the hues of the evening. The trees and nature itself seem to bend to their will, bearing witness to the intensity of their love. The final verse reveals the dreamer's longing for her own reality for her own true love. The cocoa hue, invoking ancestral ties to Mother Africa, denotes a sense of pride and ownership, instilling a sense of awe and beauty.
In conclusion, Abbey Lincoln's "Afro Blue" is a tribute to the beauty of life and love of Blackness. The song is a reminder of the sacred essence of Drum, Dance and Song and an ode that calls on us to revel in the majesty of our brown skin. With its rich, evocative descriptions of dancers, lovers, and fantasy, it teaches us to celebrate our roots and embrace our culture fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Dream of a land my soul is from
The singer is imagining a place that is familiar and comforting to their soul.
I hear a hand stroke on a drum
The singer hears the rhythmic beat of a drum, signaling the start of a joyous celebration.
Shades of delight, cocoa hue
The singer is describing the warm and inviting colors of the scene around them.
Rich as the night afro blue
The moment is full of depth and richness, symbolized by the color blue.
Elegant boy, beautiful girl
The artist describes the dancers as poised and graceful.
Dancing for joy elegant whirl
The couple is swirling together in a beautiful and joyful dance.
Two young lovers dance face to face
The couple is focused on each other, lost in their own world.
With undulating grace
Their movements are fluid and graceful.
They gently sway, then slip away
They move in sync with each other, then wander off together.
To some secluded place
They are seeking out a private and intimate moment together.
Whispering trees, echo their sighs
The nature around them seems to be responding to their love and passion.
Passionate pleas, tender replies
They communicate their love to each other with tenderness and passion.
Lovers in flight upward they glide
The couple feels like they are flying, lifted up by their love and passion.
Burst at the height slowly subside
Their passion reaches a peak, then gradually subsides.
And my slumbering fantasy assumes reality
The singer's dream seems so real that they feel like they are living it.
Until it seems it's not a dream for two for you and me
The dream feels like it is shared with someone special, possibly a romantic partner.
Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Linda's Place
Lyrics written by Oscar Brown, Jr.
Xell52
Mongo Santamaria composed it, Oscar Brown Jr. put lyrics to it, and Abbey Lincoln Killed it (But so did Oscar on "Sin and Soul" I'm a proud owner of both of the Original LPs
Gene Herd
One of the most haunting songs in my memory. I still wonder why Max Roach's drums were not more prominent. The brilliant 6/8 African rhythm is featured on subsequent covers of "Afro Blue."
Jes Ham
Max "laid back" masterfully as the genius he was to bring attention to his beautiful wife's beautiful vocals and his friend's meaningful lyrics. Don't forget he's Mr. Un Poco Loco too, which changed the way Swing rhythm drummers approached Latin/West African rhythms.
Ramone esque
Rest In Peace. Thank you Abbey Lincoln for the wonderful music.
02and00
The horns remind me of what it must have been like to be a conquering Moor in Spain. Abbey was a gem. The "People In Me" LP is a must-listen.
RaananVolesPianist
It's interesting that the jazz people like Abbey Lincoln were singing and composing songs about civil rights and black pride years and years before R&B singers finally got around to writing songs like "On Could Nine" and "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud."
Karen Varian
Music for the ages. Love her.
TheRunner75
Good version. Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Liza Wright also recorded strong version of this song which is now a classic.
Xell52
Mongo Santamaria composed it, Oscar Brown Jr. put lyrics to it, and Abbey Lincoln Killed it (But so did Oscar on "Sin and Soul" I'm a proud owner of both of the Original LPs