Spanish Harlem
Ben E. King Lyrics
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A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The song "Spanish Harlem" by Ben E. King describes a rose growing in Spanish Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City with a significant Latino population. The rose is described as red and special because it has never seen the sun, only coming out when the moon is on the run and all the stars are gleaming. Despite growing in the street right up through the concrete, the rose is soft, sweet, and dreaming. King then describes the rose as having black eyes that look down into his soul, starting a fire there and causing him to lose control. He begs for pardon before expressing his desire to pick the rose and watch it grow in his garden.
The rose in this song is a symbol of beauty and hope thriving in a place that is often seen as harsh and gritty. Spanish Harlem, like many urban neighborhoods, can be a difficult place to live, but the presence of this rose suggests that there is still beauty to be found in unexpected places. The black-eyed rose also represents a deep, soulful connection between the singer and the neighborhood. Overall, the song is a powerful tribute to the resilience and beauty of a marginalized community, and a celebration of the hope and joy that can be found among the concrete and asphalt of the city.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
In the neighborhood of Spanish Harlem, there is a beautiful red rose growing
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
This rose is bright red in color
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
This rose is unique and has not been exposed to sunlight
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
This rose only blooms during the night when the moon is visible in the sky
And all the stars are gleaming
The shining stars in the sky illuminate the rose's beauty
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
The rose is growing in a challenging environment, breaking through the concrete to reach the sunlight
But soft and sweet and dreaming
Despite its harsh surroundings, this rose is gentle, fragrant, and dreaming of a better place
With eyes as black as coal
The rose has dark-colored petals
Then look down in my soul
When I gaze upon this rose, it touches my heart and soul
And starts a fire there
This rose sparks a passion within me
And then I lose control
The rose's beauty is overwhelming and causes me to lose self-control
I have to beg your pardon
I apologize for my uncontrollable reaction to this rose
I'm going to pick that rose
I am determined to take this rose for myself
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I will cherish this rose and nurture it in my own personal garden
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
Repetition of the first line to emphasize the beauty of this rose
La la la, la la la, la la la la
The repetition of a simple, joyful tune to celebrate the rose's beauty
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MatyasTemesgen
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
@DonaldSchnell
Lost my wife of 28 fabulous years to Dementia. I turned to this song to help release my anguish. May we be together in heaven my sweetheart.
@sharmainecrayton5613
Donald Schnell deeply sorry for your loss. 😔
@foxvienna1
Yes
@patmelton43
Lost my husband 4 years ago to Alzheimer's. I am excited that soon I may see him again. What a wonderful man!
@patmcneil9603
that is so sweet u will be together one day
@curtisperson8239
Condolences
@joefurniss4803
My auntie had this song played at her funeral.(My first) a couple weeks ago. She was one of those people in your life you couldn’t imagine living without and you would just expect to live to 110 or something! Rest in peace auntie barb 🙏
@Nostalgiafor65
A warm, New York City night in Spanish Harlem. Memories that take you back to streets filled with laughter, people on stoops enjoying good conversation, transistor radios playing this great old music, kids playing in the streets. Nights that never ended... Summer in the City.
@catherineelainebaxter4609
Those were the clean, happy, uncomplicated days ❤
@rhythmfield
You paint a beautiful picture there - I’m a NYC guy too - thanks for this