Sophisticated Lady
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra With Harry Carney Lyrics
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And in this heart of yours burned a flame
A flame that flickered one day and died away
Then, with disillusion deep in your eyes
You learned that fools in love soon grow wise
The years have changed you, somehow
I see you now
Diamonds shining, dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant
Is that all you really want?
No, sophisticated lady
I know, you miss the love you lost long ago
And when nobody is nigh you cry
Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Lady is a song that delves into the inner thoughts and emotions of a woman who appears to be living a life of wealth and luxury, but is actually longing for something more. The first verse speaks about how the woman's heart was once full of passion and love, but over time, she became disillusioned and learned that love can be fleeting. As a result, she has become jaded and indifferent towards love, living in the moment without any thought of the future.
The chorus of the song poses a question to the woman, asking if the materialistic lifestyle she is living is truly what she desires. The answer is a resounding no – the sophisticated lady misses the love she once had and cries when she is alone. The song's lyrics paint a picture of a woman who, despite appearing to have everything she could want, is ultimately unfulfilled and lonely.
The bittersweet tone of the song is emphasized through Ellington's use of minor chords, which contribute to the melancholic and reflective mood of the piece. The lyrics are also notable for their use of alliteration, with the repeated "s" sounds in "sophisticated lady" adding a sense of elegance and refinement to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
They say into your early life romance came
They say that early on in your life, you experienced romance.
And in this heart of yours burned a flame
You felt a strong passion in your heart at that time.
A flame that flickered one day and died away
This passion was short-lived and eventually faded away.
Then, with disillusion deep in your eyes
Afterwards, you became disappointed and disillusioned.
You learned that fools in love soon grow wise
You realized that those who fall in love eventually become wiser about it.
The years have changed you, somehow
Over time, you've changed in some way.
I see you now
I can now see how you've changed.
Smoking, drinking, never thinking of tomorrow, nonchalant
Nowadays, you smoke, drink, and don't think about the future. You're carefree and indifferent.
Diamonds shining, dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant
You're enjoying the luxury life, shining in diamonds, and spending time with men in fancy restaurants.
Is that all you really want?
Is all of this really what you want in life?
No, sophisticated lady
I know you're not truly fulfilled.
I know, you miss the love you lost long ago
You miss the love you had in the past that you lost a long time ago.
And when nobody is nigh you cry
When you're alone, you cry because you're not truly happy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Kennedy Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elydiaz2556
Big Mouth brought me here, and I'm really glad it did
@bella.3015
Hahah
@k3v1x21
Same lol
@lazarusthehumblecritic8390
True music.
@robertghansah
Same here
@AlexDuartedrummer
You're so sophisticated lady, lady!
@queenbeverly8832
Remembering my grandmother today today is her birthday & the Duke was her favorite performer & she was a sophisicated lady !
@Kelly-nm4kw
Hello Queen, How are you doing?
@christopherwright7855
+ R.I.P.
@michaeldubick81
Man, this is one of the greatest examples of circular breathing demonstrated so beautifully by Harry Carney. That was true artistry. I play this song as a set closer, not nearly as well as the Duke and his men, but I keep trying. For KG!!!