Take The "A" Train
Ellington Duke and his Orchestra Lyrics


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I hate to see that evening sun go down,
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.
Oh, that St. Louis woman, with her diamond rings,
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!

Overall Meaning

The song "St. Louis Blues" is a classic blues song that laments a lost love. The song begins with the singer expressing her reluctance to see the sun go down because it marks the departure of her lover from town. The singer then reveals her plan to leave town if she still feels the way she does the next day. The lyrics then shift to the singer's jealousy of another woman, the St. Louis woman, who has captured the attention of her man. The singer blames the St. Louis woman's diamond rings, powder and store-bought hair for her man's straying, implying that her own natural beauty is not enough to keep him. The song ends with the singer pledging to love her man until the end of time, despite his infidelity.


Line by Line Meaning

I hate to see that evening sun go down,
It pains me to see the end of the day because my lover has departed from this town.


If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today,
If my heart continues to suffer tomorrow as it does today, I will leave this place behind.


Oh, that St. Louis woman, with her diamond rings,
That woman from St. Louis, flaunting her wealth with extravagant jewelry, is the reason my man has gone astray.


She pulls my man around by her apron strings.
She has complete control over my man's actions and decisions.


And if it wasn't for powder and her store-bought hair,
If that woman didn't spend so much on her appearance with makeup and fancy hair, my man wouldn't even bother with her.


I got those St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be,
I am feeling incredibly sad and depressed, known as the St. Louis blues, due to my lover's absence.


Oh, my man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
My lover has a heart so solid and unyielding that he has gone away without any intention of returning.


I love my man like a schoolboy loves his pie,
I am head over heels in love with my man, similar to the way a schoolboy adores his favorite dessert.


Like a Kentucky colonel loves his rocker and rye
My love for him is as strong as a Southern gentleman's love for his favorite drink.


I'll love my man until the day I die, Lord, Lord.
I will forever be devoted to my lover until the end of my life.


I got the St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be, Lord, Lord!
Once again, I am feeling an intense sadness due to my lover's absence.


That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea,
My man's heart is unbreakable and distant, causing him to be far away from me.


Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me, Lord, Lord!
If his heart was capable of feeling love, he wouldn't have left me alone in this state of despair.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir One Music
Written by: BILLY STRAYHORN

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

@Blauqkween

My favorite version of this is the one in black and white, where they are on the train and the woman sings
Hurry hurry hurry take the A train
To get to Sugarhill way up in Harlem
If you should take the A-a-a train
You'll get to where you're going in a hurry.
Hurry hurry hurry now it's coming
Can't you hear the bells-a humming
dubably obbb bob
If you should miss the A-a-a train
You'll miss the quickest way to get to Harlem.



All comments from YouTube:

@demetriosthompson6898

I went to Duke Ellington School of the Arts. I am a DC, Native ( in Washington, D.C.)! We were Blessed to walk the Halls of that school. You had to audition to get into it. There was Music Playing between our Class changes! No joke..'91-95 Know. Give me 💯, on this .

@ShawnC.T.

It doesn't get any better than this swingin' 60's Jazz gem, from a Jazz music legend, Duke Ellington, a.k.a. "Sir Duke", may he R.I.P. always...

@rqdq8576

When I was in high school - the school band played this song one night - t'was in 1960!

@alexhjc8

woah

@enrisasso372

TechLili l

@muymalo7651

de la nuca diriamos por acá

@kennethezzell9487

Duke is smooth

@googleassistant2117

@@muymalo7651 si no te importa, que significa eso en ingles?

10 More Replies...

@sew1835

Mr Ellington looked like was having a great time!!
Just great! What a genius he was.

@wannawatchu66

In fact, the Duke and Billy Strayhorn got the art of collaboration down to such an art, you couldn't tell which one wrote what.

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