Duke Ellington and his Orchestra is perhaps the greatest of all Jazz bands.… Read Full Bio ↴Duke Ellington and his Orchestra is perhaps the greatest of all Jazz bands. The group stayed together for over fifty years and recorded and wrote some of America's greatest music. The band started in New York City under name of the Washingtonians in 1923, they then briefly became known as Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra, then as Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra from 1927 to 1930. It was through weekly radio broadcasts from the Cotton Club that the orchestra gained nationwide exposure and became famous. After 1931 the band was billed as Duke Ellington and his Orchestra.

Chloe
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chloe! Chloe!
Someone's calling, no reply
Nightshade's falling, hear him sigh
Chloe! Chloe!

Empty spaces in his eyes
Empty arms outstretched, he's crying

Through the black of night
I've got to go where you are
If it's dark or bright
I've got to go where you are

I'll go through the dismal swampland
Searching for you
For if you are lost there
Let me be there too

Through the smoke and flame
I've got to go where you are
For no ways can be too far
Where you are

Ain't no chains can bind you
If you live, I'll find you

Love is calling me
I've got to go where you are

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Duke Ellington's song Chloe depict a person's desperate search for their beloved, who seems to have gone missing. The repeated refrain of "Chloe! Chloe!" suggests a sense of urgency and desperation. The first verse sets the stage by describing how "someone's calling" Chloe, but there is "no reply," and the singer can hear Chloe's loved one sighing as "nightshade's falling." The second verse paints a picture of Chloe's loved one in distress, with "empty spaces in his eyes" and his "empty arms outstretched" as he cries.

The subsequent verses detail the lengths to which the singer will go to find Chloe, wherever she may be. Even if it means traversing through a "dismal swampland" or enduring "smoke and flame," the singer must find Chloe. The final lines of the song suggest a deep commitment to love, as the singer vows that "ain't no chains can bind" Chloe and that they will find her no matter what.

Overall, the lyrics of Chloe are a poignant and soulful exploration of the lengths that true love can drive a person to go.

Line by Line Meaning

Chloe! Chloe!
The singer is calling out to Chloe, possibly a person or perhaps a place.

Someone's calling, no reply
Someone is calling out to Chloe, but there is no response.

Nightshade's falling, hear him sigh
The singer is feeling sad and upset, perhaps due to the lack of response from Chloe.

Chloe! Chloe!
The artist repeats the name of Chloe, once again calling out to them.

Empty spaces in his eyes
The artist is feeling empty and lost due to Chloe's absence.

Empty arms outstretched, he's crying
The singer is physically and emotionally upset, reaching out for Chloe in desperation.

Through the black of night
The singer is willing to venture through the darkness to find Chloe.

I've got to go where you are
The artist is determined to find and be with Chloe.

If it's dark or bright
The artist is not deterred by the time of day, and will search for Chloe regardless.

I'll go through the dismal swampland
The artist is willing to venture through unpleasant situations to find Chloe.

Searching for you
The singer is actively looking for Chloe, and is not giving up.

For if you are lost there
The artist acknowledges that Chloe might be lost in the swampland.

Let me be there too
The singer is willing to be in the same situation as Chloe, even if it's unpleasant.

Through the smoke and flame
The singer is willing to go through dangerous situations to find Chloe.

For no ways can be too far
The singer is willing to go any distance to find Chloe.

Where you are
The artist's ultimate goal is to be with Chloe, no matter where they are.

Ain't no chains can bind you
Chloe is depicted as being free and independent, not held down by any constraints.

If you live, I'll find you
The singer is determined to find Chloe, regardless of whether they are alive or not.

Love is calling me
The singer is motivated by love to find Chloe, indicating a close relationship between them.

I've got to go where you are
The artist reiterates their commitment to finding Chloe.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELTON JOHN, GARY ANTHONY OSBORNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@_nathan.clavier_

2y↑44

Rien de plus pour être amoureux que : la présence de Chloé à ses côtés, dansant le biglemoi, tandis que Colin, se délecte d'un verre composé de notes d'Ellington jouée sur son pianocktail, avec en prime, la lecture d'une énième nouvelle de Jean-Sol Partre prêtée à contrecœur par Chick, tandis que Nicolas s'affaire à la préparation d'un pâté d'anguille dans la cuisine avec l'aide de la souris grise.
Les plus beaux souvenirs, peu à peu emportés par l'écume des jours.

Ne cherchez pas ce passage, il n'est pas dans le livre 😃 Ceci est juste l'interprétation la plus heureuse que j'en suis venu à en tenir. Un grand merci à Duke pour son génie, ainsi qu'un merci tout particulier à Vian pour l'écriture de l'un des classiques du domaine romantique.