Take The "A" Train
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Al Hibbler vocal; Lyrics
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I hate to see that evening sun go down,
'Cause my lovin' baby done left this town.
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
I'm gonna pack my trunk and make my getaway.
She pulls my man around by her apron strings.
And if it wasn't for powder and her store-bought hair,
Oh, that man of mine wouldn't go nowhere.
I got those St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be,
Oh, my man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me.
I love my man like a schoolboy loves his pie,
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his rocker and rye
I'll love my man until the day I die, Lord, Lord.
I got the St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be, Lord, Lord!
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me.
I got those St. Louis blues, I got the blues, I got the blues, I got the blues,
My man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me, Lord, Lord!
The lyrics to Duke Ellington's song "Take the 'A' Train" speak about the singer's heartbreak over their lover leaving town. They start by expressing their sadness at seeing the "evening sun go down" because it reminds them that their "lovin' baby" has left town. The singer goes on to explain that if they feel the same way tomorrow as they do today, they will "pack [their] trunk and make [their] getaway." In the following verses, the singer speaks about a woman in St. Louis who is stealing their lover away, describing her as wearing diamond rings and controlling their lover with her apron strings. They lament their "St. Louis blues" and express their love for their man, comparing it to a schoolboy's love for pie or a Kentucky colonel's love for their drink. They end by repeating the chorus, emphasizing their heartbreak over their lover leaving.
Overall, the lyrics to "Take the 'A' Train" evoke a sense of sadness and heartbreak, with the singer expressing their despair over their lover leaving for another woman. The verses highlight the contrast between this emotional pain and the singer's love for their man, emphasizing the depth of their feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down,
I feel despair and sadness when the sun sets because my lover has left this town.
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
If I still feel the same way tomorrow as I do today, I will leave town.
Oh, that St. Louis woman, with her diamond rings,
That woman from St. Louis, with all her flashy jewels, is tempting my man away.
She pulls my man around by her apron strings.
She has control over my man and he is doing whatever she wants.
And if it wasn't for powder and her store-bought hair,
If that woman wasn't so fake and wearing makeup and wigs, my man wouldn't be interested in her.
Oh, that man of mine wouldn't go nowhere.
My man would stay with me if it weren't for that woman from St. Louis.
I got those St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be,
I am feeling very sad and down, the kind of sadness associated with the blues, because of that woman from St. Louis and my man leaving.
Oh, my man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
My man has a heart that is cold and hard, impossible to move or change.
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me.
If he had any feeling or compassion for me, he wouldn't have left town with that woman from St. Louis.
I love my man like a schoolboy loves his pie,
I love my man with the same kind of enthusiasm and passion as a young schoolboy loves his favorite dessert.
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his rocker and rye
My love for my man is akin to the love that a wealthy, powerful Kentucky colonel has for his favorite drink, which he enjoys in his rocking chair.
I'll love my man until the day I die, Lord, Lord.
I will continue to love my man for the rest of my life, no matter what happens.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir One Music
Written by: BILLY STRAYHORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind