Drop Me off At Harlem
Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong Lyrics


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Drop me off in Harlem,
Any place in Harlem,
There's someone waiting there
Who makes it seem like
Heaven up in Harlem.

I don't want your Dixie,
You can keep your Dixie,
There's no one down in Dixie who can take me
'Way from my hot Harlem.

Harlem has those southern skies,
They're in my baby's smile,
I idolize my baby's eyes and
Classy up-town style.

If Harlem moved to China,
I know of nothing finer,
Than to stow away on a plane, some day and have them
Drop me off in Harlem.

Harlem has those southern skies,
They're in my baby's smile,
I idolize my baby's eyes and
Classy up-town style.

If Harlem moved to China,
I know of nothing finer,
Than to stow away on a plane, some day and have them
Drop me off in Harlem.





If Harlem moved to China
I know nothing finer than to be in Harlem

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong's song "Drop Me Off At Harlem" reflect the musicians' love and admiration for the iconic New York City neighborhood. The song speaks to the energy, beauty, and unique culture of Harlem that enchanted the African American community of the 1920s and 30s. The lyricist suggests that one can find heaven just by being dropped off in Harlem because of its lively atmosphere and its people's welcoming attitudes.


The second verse of the song speaks to the comparison between Dixie and Harlem. While Dixie may have its appeal to some, the singer does not want to be taken away from Harlem's vibrant atmosphere. Harlem, the "up-town" style, is idolized by the singer, and they see nothing finer than being in Harlem.


The third verse speaks to the singer's admiration for their baby's southern skies and classy up-town style. These lyrics highlight the richness and diversity of black culture in Harlem, which included the tight-knit community's fashion sense and southern roots.


Overall, "Drop Me Off At Harlem" is a tribute song to the iconic New York City neighborhood written during a time when Harlem was the capital of black America. It speaks to the unique beauty and soul of Harlem that continues to attract people to this day.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: EDWARD KENNEDY ELLINGTON, NICK A. KENNY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@RenegadeGunn

Sugar: Damn I'm sure gonna miss that place you know we can never go back there again

Quick: Man there's other cities let's just find someplace where we can start over again

Sugar: But there's no place like Harlem

Benny: You ain't lying Sugar let me look at it one last time

Vera: Don't waste your time put your blind ass in the car

(BENNY AND VERA ARGUING)

Quick: So where you wanna go pops

Sugar: I don't know son but we got a tank full of gas and a trunk full of money

Quick: Sounds like a sweet combination

Sugar: Sweet as Sugar

(SUGAR WINKS AND BOTH SUGAR AND QUICK LAUGH AND GETS IN THE CAR)

Louis Armstrong: 🎵Drop me off in Harlem yeah good ol Harlem you have your fun under the home suns drop me off in Harlem🎵

(CAR ENGINE STARTS AND HEADLIGHTS SHINES BRIGHT THEN DRIVES OFF AS THE CREDITS ROLLS WITH THE CITY OF HARLEM IN THE BACKGROUND)



All comments from YouTube:

@brittanypatterson8544

just was in good ol Harlem NYC and had a very tasty red beans and rice with beef stew on a nice cold winter evening watching the snow come down and enjoying the beautiful ambience😊

@skywarp1

Just finished watching Harlem Nights. Funny classic movie

@librasmith9894

As a kid I was always drawn to this song at the end of the movie. Now I am happy to have found it on YouTube as an adult.

@Cappadoccia04

+Libra Smith same here.

@thephoenix81

Same here man, same here!!!

@MrFilthy35

Here here

@jojoUK120

It’s probably the least interesting track from a fantastic album- “the great summit”

4 More Replies...

@geraldjohnson848

Duke Ellington. Louis Armstrong. Harlem, New York. 'Nuff said. Thanks for the upload. Blessings

@towringer

Quick: So, where you wanna go, Pop? Sugar Ray: I don't know, Son. But we got a tank full of gas, and a trunk full of money Quick: That sounds like a sweet combination Sugar Ray: Sweet as sugar.

@johnathanhillman

Before 90s show up

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