In 1950, McPhatter joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man", which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, McPhatter quit the group in 1953 because he made little money and gained virtually no fame, in spite of his voice being the lead on most of the group's songs. McPhatter then signed to Atlantic Records after forming a group, The Drifters. "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do" became huge hits.
In 1954, McPhatter was drafted but was assigned in the U.S., allowing him to continue recording. He soon left The Drifters and launched a solo career. His first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B hits in the next few years, but only made one serious dent in the pop charts with the Brook Benton penned song "A Lovers Question", which made it to #6 in 1958. White groups usually covered his best compositions and achieved more widespread mainstream success. In spite of this, McPhatter became one of the most popular black musicians among white listeners. His 1956 recording of "Treasure of Love" saw him enjoy just one week in the UK singles chart. The lack of any subsequent entry gave him the unenviable tag there of being a one hit wonder
McPhatter soon signed to MGM Records, and released several more hits. "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) became minor pop hits, as was "Ta Ta", his first single for Mercury Records. "I Never Knew" and "Lover Please" (1962) became even bigger pop hits, but his career started suffering due to his alcoholism. Other black artists were following McPhatter's blueprint into pop audiences, including Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Sam Cooke and an all new line-up of The Drifters. McPhatter's unreliability kept him from maintaining his career in the face of this competition. As the 1960s wore on, McPhatter's career kept falling in spite of a few minor hits.
In the early 1970s, McPhatter spent some time living in England, where he still had a significant audience, but this was short-lived. Back again in America, Clyde McPhatter died of a heart attack in 1972, at the age of 39.
In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Spanish Harlem
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 that 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)
Clyde McPhatter's "Spanish Harlem" is a romantic and soulful song about the beauty and allure of Spanish Harlem. The opening verse speaks of a red rose growing in the city among the hard and unforgiving concrete streets. This rose is special, as it only blooms at night under the moon and stars. It is delicate, soft, and sweet, just like the dreams of those who live in the neighbourhood. The second verse is more personal, describing the singer's encounter with a woman whose eyes are as black as coal. Her gaze penetrates his soul, igniting a fire, and making him lose control. The singer asks for forgiveness, admitting that he will take that rose and plant it in his own garden, watching it as it grows.
The song is a tribute to the beauty and resilience of Spanish Harlem, where life is tough, but people still find joy and love. The rose is a symbol of hope and optimism, blooming in the most unlikely of places. The black-eyed woman represents the passion and intensity that exists in the neighbourhood. The singer's desire to take the rose and plant it in his garden is a metaphor for wanting to preserve and cherish the beauty and magic of Spanish Harlem.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
In Spanish Harlem, there is a rose, a symbol of beauty and love.
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
The rose is red, which signifies passion, and it blooms in Spanish Harlem where it is surrounded by concrete.
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
The rose is unique because it doesn't need direct sunlight to grow, but instead flourishes in the moonlight.
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
The rose is only visible during the night, when the moon rules the sky.
And all the stars are gleaming
During the night the stars in the sky add to the rose's beauty with its shining light.
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
The rose perseveres and grows from the harsh environment it is surrounded by.
But soft and sweet and dreaming
The rose's nature is tender and endearing, even if it's surrounded by hard concrete and harsh environment.
With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
The person singing feels as though the rose has eyes that look into their very being.
And starts a fire there and then I lose control
The rose's presence fuels the singer's passion and energy, causing them to feel overwhelmed.
I have to beg your pardon
The singer apologizes for their strong feelings and energy towards this rose.
I'm going to pick that rose
The singer plans to take the rose and make it their own.
And watch her as she grows in my garden
The singer wants to nurture and care for the rose as a symbol of their love and passion.
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The refrain repeats the opening line, emphasizing the rose's beauty and importance.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind