Harlem / Cold Baloney
Bill Withers Lyrics


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Summer night in Harlem,
Man it's really hot!
Well it's too hot to sleep
And too hot to eat.
I don't care if I die or not!

Winter night in Harlem,
Oh oh radiator won't get hot,
And that mean ole landlord
He don't care if I freeze to death or not!

Saturday night in Harlem,
Ahh every thing's alright.
You can really swing and shake your pretty thing,
The parties are out of sight.

Sunday morning here in Harlem
Now every body's all dressed up.
The heathen folk just getting home from the party
And the good folk just got up.
Our crooked delegation
Wants a donation
To send the preacher to the holy land
Hey hey lord honey don't give your money
To that lying, cheating man..

Saturday night in Harlem,
Ahh every thing's alright.




You can really swing and shake your pretty thing,
The parties are out of sight.

Overall Meaning

The song "Harlem / Cold Baloney" by Bill Withers reflects the contrast of lifestyles experienced by the people living in the neighborhood of Harlem, New York City. Withers' lyrics outlines various scenarios in Harlem during a different type of season, starting with the summer night where it's too hot to sleep and eat, and the persona does not care if he dies or not. He then describes the situation on a winter night when the radiator won't get hot, and the landlord doesn't care if he freezes to death or not. Withers also mentions the joyful scenes of Saturday night in Harlem when everything is all right, and one can swing and shake their pretty thing, and the parties are out of sight. He concludes by detailing what happens the next day, with everyone dressing up for Sunday morning. The "heathen" folks are returning home from the party, while the "good" folks are getting up for church. And to end it all, Withers speaks about the hypocritical nature of some religious leaders who want a donation to send a preacher to the Holy Land, but the plea falls on deaf ears as he urges against giving to "that lying, cheating man."


The song reflects the socio-cultural conditions of Harlem during the 1970s, with its rich African American culture, music scene, and political activism. It was a time when the area was dealing with poverty, high crime rates, and a city administration that paid little attention to public safety and economic development in Harlem. The song is an expression of the frustration and struggle faced by the people living in the neighborhood, where even basic necessities like heating and food were hard to come by.


Line by Line Meaning

Summer night in Harlem,
The weather is hot and humid in Harlem during summer.


Man it's really hot!
The heat is overwhelming and uncomfortable for the singer.


Well it's too hot to sleep
The heat is so intense that the singer cannot relax or rest.


And too hot to eat.
The artist doesn't have an appetite due to the hot weather.


I don't care if I die or not!
The heat is unbearable to the extent that the artist is indifferent to their fate.


Winter night in Harlem,
The weather is cold and chilly in Harlem during winter.


Oh oh radiator won't get hot,
The heating system is not working, leaving the singer cold.


And that mean ole landlord
The artist's landlord is unpleasant and unsympathetic.


He don't care if I freeze to death or not!
The artist's landlord is not concerned if the tenant dies from cold due to a faulty heating system.


Saturday night in Harlem,
Saturday nights are lively and exciting in Harlem.


Ahh every thing's alright.
The singer is content and satisfied with the events happening around them.


You can really swing and shake your pretty thing,
The artist feels comfortable and free to dance and express themselves.


The parties are out of sight.
The parties are fantastic and much fun.


Sunday morning here in Harlem.
The morning of a post-party Sunday is quiet and peaceful in Harlem.


Now every body's all dressed up.
People are getting ready for church service, and everyone is dressed formally.


The heathen folk just getting home from the party
People who didn't attend church service are returning home after a night of revelry.


And the good folk just got up.
The churchgoers are just waking up and preparing for the service.


Our crooked delegation
A group of corrupt church officials.


Wants a donation
The church officials are asking for monetary contributions.


To send the preacher to the holy land
The donation is to finance a trip by the preacher to a pilgrimage site.


Hey hey lord honey don't give your money
The artist is advising the lord not to part with their cash.


To that lying, cheating man..
The artist believes that the preacher is untrustworthy and deceitful.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL WITHERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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